Fundraising Guidelines

We want to do all we can to help you with your fundraiser and also keep you safe. Before you start your fundraising journey with us, please read the following guidelines.

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General Conduct 

• When you’re fundraising, make sure you are open, honest and respectful with everyone you encounter. Your fundraising should be inclusive and should not cause offence, discriminate against any group or bring the charity into disrepute. 

• Don’t be too persistent when asking for donations and never exploit someone’s trust or vulnerability. 

• Respect the confidentiality of other people’s information and treat any confidential or personal information with care. 

• Inform us in a timely manner if you need to withdraw from or cancel your event. 

Money Collections and Donations 

• Always obtain permission first from the landowner or manager when holding a collection on private property (e.g. supermarkets, shopping centres, rail stations, schools). 

• Always obtain consent from the charity and the local licensing authority when holding a collection on public property (e.g. streets or parks) or carrying out a pub-to-pub collection. Do not carry out any house-to-house collections. 

• Ensure that collection boxes/buckets are secured and sealed correctly. 

• Ensure any cash raised is kept safe and secure and ensure two people present when counting collected money. Ensure all money raised is paid in within two months of any fundraising activities. 

• Don’t take any expenses or fees from donations unless agreed beforehand and ensure this is clearly stated when promoting your activity. 

• If you are using QR codes on posters to direct people to your online fundraising page, please regularly check that the QR code hasn’t been tampered with and is still directing to the correct webpage. 

Brand guidelines and advertising 

• In your advertising and running of your fundraising activity, ensure it is clear you are fundraising ‘in aid of The Grand Appeal / Cots for Tots, registered charity number 1043603’. 

• Request to use our specific fundraising logo that contains our permissions statement and registered charity number 1043603 and don’t take the logo from the internet to use. 

• Ensure all materials and correspondence include: ‘The Grand Appeal/Cots for Tots. Registered charity number 1043603.’ 

• Don’t use any AI generated images of Wallace & Gromit on promotional materials. They are licenced characters and there are strict guidelines around their use from Aardman.  

• Show us any material bearing our logo prior to printing or online publication. 

• If you are fundraising through donating an amount per product sold, please let us know as you will need a Commercial Participation Agreement in place which we can organise with you.  

Raffles and lotteries 

• Ensure you only hold a raffle without a licence when tickets are sold during a non-commercial event, on the premises where the event is held, and the draw takes place during the event on a given day. 

• Understand all other raffles require a licence from the local authority.  

Children and Safeguarding 

• Ensure that children under 16 do not manage static collection boxes or count collected money or buy or sell raffle tickets. 

• Ensure that children are properly looked after, that you have permission from their parents or guardians to take part, and that any adults looking after children have had the appropriate checks. 

• Ensure permission from parents/guardians is obtained for any photography. 

• If you are under 16, please ensure your parent/guardian gets in touch with us to give permission for you to fundraise. 

Health and Safety 

• Undertake a risk assessment of any event you organise to ensure everyone will be safe.  

• Ensure that any food sold has been produced under safe and hygienic conditions and the food safety systems have been documented.  

• Check with the venue or local council to see if you need a licence if you plan to sell alcoholic drinks or have a band or singer perform at your event. 

Insurance and Liability 

• Acknowledge that we cannot provide insurance for any of your events and ensure that you obtain insurance when necessary. 

• Acknowledge that we cannot take responsibility for any losses made through, or liability arising from, your event. 

For any questions regarding these guidelines, please email hello@grandappeal.org.uk.