Make sure your fundraising is legal and safe

While you are planning your activity and before you start fundraising, check these guidelines to make sure you are being safe and following the law. We’ve additional guidelines to look at if you are involving children and young people in your activity.

Is it legal?

Some methods of fundraising are restricted by local or charity law. Here are some basic guidelines to consider when organising your fundraising activities.

Collections

You must have a licence or permit from your local authority or Metropolitan Police if you want to hold a street collection, house-to-house collection or any other collection in a public place. Collections in pubs, factories and offices are counted as house-to-house collections, so you also need a permit for them.

Raffles and lotteries

As raffles are deemed a form of lottery and gambling by the Gambling Commission, it’s important to be aware of the laws and restrictions that affect this kind of fundraising activity.

If your raffle or draw is held within a 24 hour period, is in one single venue and is part of another event, you can use cloakroom tickets and do not need a license.

If your raffle lasts longer than 24 hours you will need a local lottery licence and printed tickets with specific information on them.

For more information, contact your local authority and read through the Gambling Commission guidelines.

Selling alcohol

If you plan to sell drinks like beer, wine or spirits at your event you’ll need a licence. Requirements are different depending on the venue and where you live, so check your local council website for more information.

Live music

If you’re planning to have a band or singer perform at your event you’ll need a music licence.

Correspondence and publicity material

When you’re writing to anyone about your event or producing any publicity items, remember to include Young Lives vs Cancer’s registered charity number.

Please use these exact words: Young Lives vs Cancer is an operating name of CLIC Sargent Cancer Care for Children. A registered charity in England and Wales (1107328) and in Scotland (SC039857). Also operating in Northern Ireland. Registered office: Young Lives vs Cancer, 4th Floor, Whitefriars, Lewins Mead, Bristol, BS1 2NT.

Collecting boxes

The law requires that boxes should be sealed and numbered. This is to reassure people making donations that their money will find its way to the intended charity. Boxes without seals, or with damaged seals, also look unprofessional and do not reflect well on Young Lives vs Cancer. If you need replacement seals you can contact us.

If you need to open a collecting tin, make sure at least two people are present while the tin is opened and the money is counted and recorded using a Young Lives vs Cancer counting form.

Fundraising guidelines

Find more information about legal requirements at:

• Institute of Fundraising
• The Fundraising Regulator

Is it safe?

We really appreciate everything you do to raise money for young cancer patients, but we want you to do this safely. Always plan an event carefully and well in advance. Remember, your fundraising idea doesn’t have to be complicated to be successful, but it should always be fun!

Risk assessment

We advise you to identify any potential accidents or hazards before you decide to hold the event by completing a risk assessment.

The Health and Safety Executive provide some excellent free resources on health and safety, including their guide ‘Five Steps to Risk Assessment’ and a template for you to use.

Security

Make sure your venue is safe and decide whether you’ll need crowd control measures. Consider carefully what security arrangements you’ll need, particularly if you’re carrying money around or if there will be large amounts of money at the event.

First Aid

It’s a good idea to consider first aid facilities as part of the risk assessment process. These may range from having a first aid kit on hand at small events to having a person available with a formal first aid qualification or ‘partnering’ with a voluntary first aid organisation such as St John Ambulance or the British Red Cross.

• St John Ambulance
• British Red Cross

Public liability insurance

Young Lives vs Cancer is unable to accept any liability or responsibility for anything that might happen to people or property as a result of your fundraising activity. If you are planning an event that involves the general public you will need to get public liability insurance.

Young Lives vs Cancer suggests you contact your own insurance broker to check that you are covered to undertake your fundraising. Alternatively, see below for independent insurers who can give independent insurance advice.

• Hiscox 0800 840 2469
• Event Insurance 01425 484862

If you are holding an event at a place which has public liability insurance (like a school or workplace) you should check the cover with them in case you need to secure extra cover.

Food safety

Whenever food is sold at events there should be adequate facilities to prepare and serve food safely. Food handling procedures should avoid exposing food to risk of contamination and food with allergies should be clearly labelled. Food handlers must also receive adequate training, instruction or supervision. For more information please contact us.

Are children involved in your event?

As a charity supporting children and young people, we take the safety of children very seriously. If children are going to take part in your fundraising event, there are some things that we would like to bring to your attention for their safety and your protection.

If you have any questions or concerns about the involvement of children and young people in your fundraising event you can contact us.

• Do not hold an event which specifically encourages children to attend without their parents.
• If children can attend your event, you need to make sure the environment is safe for them Think about any potential risks such as cars, equipment, doors, toilets, facilities for lost children, etc.
• If you plan to hold a crèche/supervised play area for children you need to seek advice from your Local Authority children’s services department
• If you have asked other adults or organisations to provide a service at your event for children, e.g. Punch and Judy, a bouncy castle etc, check their insurance safety certificates and ask for references and their Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check.
• Do not take photographs of children without their parent’s permission.
• Do not allow children to enter raffles, competitions or games where the prize is alcohol.

And finally…

Good luck with your fundraising.

Remember, every penny you raise will make a real difference to children and young people with cancer, and their families.

Get in touch

We love to hear all about your fundraising plans and are on hand to answer any questions. We’re here to help you make your event a success.

• Chat to our fundraising team online using live chat (use the pink ‘chat to us’ button at the bottom right of the screen) Monday – Friday, 10am – 4pm
• Call us on 0300 330 0803, Monday – Friday, 9am – 5pm
• Email us at fundraisingevents@younglivesvscancer.org.uk