Street Collections

Any charitable collections, whether of cash or property, undertaken in any street or public place, must be licensed by Bromsgrove District Council in accordance with the Police, Factories, etc., (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1916. Collections are controlled to prevent harassment to the public and to ensure the allocation of funds are monitored.

Ideally, applications should be submitted at least two months before the proposed collection date.

A street collection licence is automatically granted to the Bromsgrove Carnival Committee, which holds its collection as part of the annual Bromsgrove Carnival.

To support your application for a street collection permit, you will be required to apply for a 'subject access certificate' from the Police Authority relevant to the area within which you live. Please note that there is a charge for this certificate and can take up to eight weeks to process.  Alternately if you hold a Criminal Records Disclosure (CRB) this will also be acceptable, providing it is less than 3 years old.

Before you are issued with a permit to promote a Street Collection, the Council will need to be in receipt of this certificate or CRB Disclosure. Please note that, in most cases, the certificate is simply a confirmation that you have no convictions. The Council is merely concerned about 'bogus' collections being promoted for fraudulent reasons. You will also be required to supply a reference from the benefiting organisation, confirming that the promoter has the authority to collect on their behalf.

The Council grants only one street collection permit in a specific area on a specific date. Therefore, if you find that a 'rival' collection is taking place on the day on which you promote your approved collection, you should contact the local Police Control Room on 0345 444888 as soon as possible.

There is no cost for the issuing of a permit.  

A return form must be completed following the collection and returned to us within one month.  This form will be sent to you once your application has been granted.

Direct Debit Collections

Direct Debit Charity Collections are where pledges are collected for direct debit donations. These do not currently require a licence in Bromsgrove. There are no legal provisions for collections of this type at the present moment, but it is hoped that new legislation will soon be introduced so that these types of collections can be regulated.

If you wish to make a complaint about this type of fundraising , please visit www.pfra.org.uk

For further information, please contact The Licensing Team, Bromsgrove District Council, The Council House, Burcot Lane, Bromsgrove, Worcestershire, B60 1AA; telephone: 01527 881454/881263, or email wrslicensing@worcsregservices.gov.uk
If you wish to speak in person with a member of the Licensing Team, please telephone (01527) 881454/881263 to make arrangements to attend the next available licensing surgery which are held at the Customer Service Centre

Downloads:

 - Street Collections Application Form 

 - Street Collections - Form of Statement 

 - Street Collections - Guidance Notes 

 - Street Collections - Regulations