Please note: If you need to see a member of the Licensing section, they will only be available between the hours of 10.00am and 12.00 noon and 2.00pm and 4.00pm. Alternatively please email licensing@surreyheath.gov.uk.
You can jump to different parts of this web page by clicking on one of the below bullet points.
Street Collections
- Charity Collection Calendar
- Street Collections Application
- Street Collections Returns Form
- What do I need to know?
House to House Collections
Direct Debit Collections
There are no fees involved in applying for these licences.
What do I need to know?
It is illegal in this country to hold a Street Collection to collect money or sell articles for the benefit of charitable or other purposes without obtaining a Street Collection Licence from the Council if that collection is to be held 'in a street or public place'. A 'public place' is a 'place where the public has access'.
It is often assumed that collections held in shop doorways or car parks do not need a Street Collection Licence because they are being held on 'Privately owned land'. This is not true, as the legislation does not mention the ownership of the land or treat collections on 'privately owned land' as exempt from the licensing regulations. A Pedlars Licence, issued by the Police cannot be used for this purpose. The Council has issued Regulations under its statutory powers. These are laid down by central Government and are generally the same for all authorities.
Collection Areas
Inner Bagshot (inc village centre and Waitrose), Outer Bagshot (inc Longacres), Inner Camberley (inc Town Centre), Outer Camberley (inc Sainsburys), Frimley (inc village centre), Frimley Green, Bisley, Chobham, Deepcut, Mytchett, West End and Windlesham.
After the Collection
You will need to submit the returns form above within one month of your collection showing details of income and expenditure, telling us how much money was raised and the amounts used for expenses such as printing, stationery, collecting boxes,etc.
- Guidance Notes
- Media and Press Contacts
- Street Collections Policy
- Street Collections Regulations and example returns form
- House to House Collections Act 1939 - House to house collection Regulations 1947 (as amended)
What do I need to know?
If you want to visit houses (or businesses) in Surrey Heath Borough Council to ask people to give money or other property to charitable, benevolent, or philanthropic purpose, you must obtain a House to House Collections Licence.
However, there are some exceptions:
You will not need our permission in the following circumstances:
- If you hold a local collection over a short period of time and you have obtained a certificate of permission from the police
- If the collection is part of a national collection scheme and you have an exemption from the Secretary of State
- If you are carrying out a charity collection, but only on the street. In this case, you will need a separate street collection permit from us
- If you are selling goods door-to-door. However, you must not suggest that the proceeds of the sales are going to charity
- If you are only leaving a static collecting tin in a place of business (e.g. a pub) that you will pick up later.
It is the Council's policy to allow only one collection in a location at any time.
Signed Authority and Badge
On being granted a permit to collect, applicants will be issued with a certificate for the information of H M Stationery Office to enable them to obtain prescribed certificates of authority and the number of badges required. This certificate must be taken or sent to H M Stationery Office from which the prescribed certificates of authority and badges will be issued. It is an offence for any collector to collect without having in possession the required signed authority and badge.
After the Collection
You will need to submit the returns form above within one month of your collection showing details of income and expenditure, telling us how much money was raised and the amounts used for expenses such as printing, stationery, collecting boxes,etc.
Direct Debit Collections (Face to Face)
What do I need to know?
There is currently no law controlling face-to-face fundraising. 'Cash collection' is clearly defined and regulated in the street by the Police (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1916, and 'door-step collections' by the House-to-House Collections Act 1939, but neither law recognises Direct Debit. This means that face-to-face collectors do not need a permit issued by any local authority.
A voluntary system is in place within Surrey Heath. Organisers of face-to-face collections please email licensing@surreyheath.gov.uk and book days when no street collection or any other direct debit collections are taking place.
Information regarding face-to-face collections can be found on the public fundraising regulatory association website: Public Fundraising Regulatory Association. (www.pfra.org.uk)