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Charities and Raffles

Street Collections

Permit-Make a Street Collection or Sale Online Application

Street Collections

Permit-Make a Street Collection or Sale Online Application

Fundraising is a common method of raising money for charities. There are many different ways that charitable collections can be gathered. Each of these has a different set of rules. The most common forms of collection are listed below.

Street Collection

View more information on street collections.

House-to-house Collection

House-to-house collection (going from door-to-door collecting money or items) requires a licence from us. If a Home Office Exemption Order has been granted then you won’t need a licence.

An application for a licence to make a house to house collection must be made at least four weeks before the proposed date of the collection.

The licence will be valid to make collections for no more than one calendar year.

Many collections are carried out by regional or national charitable organisations. These are often under the authority of a Home Office exemption. A list of charities that hold a national exemption order can be located on the Government website - National Exemption Order

After the collection has been held, a house to house return form [pdf] 70KB has to be submitted.

For further information contact the Licensing team.

Direct Debit Fundraising

Fundraising by direct debit is not currently licensable, but a diary is held by us for Tenterden town centre. The Public Fundraising Regulatory Association (PFRA) hold the diary for Ashford town centre. The PFRA can be contacted on 0207 401 8452.

Private Collection

You must get permission from a landowner or manager if collecting money on private property. Shopping centres would fall under this category. You may also be asked to obtain a street collection permit from us.

Lotteries/Raffles

To apply for a new registration, Log into your Account (or create an account if you don't already have one) and complete the new registration form.

There is an initial fee of £40.00. An annual fee of £20.00 is then payable every year.

You can register to run a small lottery if it is:

  • for charitable purposes
  • for the purpose of enabling participation in, or supporting, sport, athletics or a cultural activity
  • for any other non-commercial purpose other than that of private gain

After each draw a return must be submitted within three months. Log into your Account (or create an account if you don't already have one) to submit a lottery return. There is no fee payable with respect to lottery returns.

See our Lotteries FAQs below for more information.

Frequently Asked Questions

+ When do I need a lottery registration?

If you are selling tickets in advance of the draw.

+ Tickets are only being sold on the same day as the draw; do I need a registration?

No.

+ How do I apply?

Log in to your Account (or create an account if you don't already have one). There is an initial fee of £40.00. An annual fee of £20.00 is then payable every year.

+ What information must be printed on the ticket?

You need to provide the price of the ticket, the date of the draw, the name of the promoter and the name of the promoting society.

+ What do I need to do once the draw has taken place?

Log in to your Account (or create an account if you don't already have one) and submit a return within three months. There is no fee payable with respect to lottery returns.