Bucket collection tips

Organising a bucket collection is a really simple way to fundraise for Teenage Cancer Trust whilst helping to raise awareness of the charity. People are incredibly generous and it can be a great way to raise a lot of cash fast.

Types of bucket collections

Bucket collections can come in a couple of different forms:

Street collections –where you are raising money on the street or in a public space
Private collections – where you are raising money on private property

It’s important to know which type of collection you’re doing first, follow the rest of our bucket collection tips for more info.

Organising a bucket collection tips

Step 1 – Let us know

Fill in our fundraising registration form to let us know that you would like to organise a bucket collection for us. We’ll get back to you with a supporter reference number as well as providing you with the materials you need for your collection (including buckets and t-shirts).

Step 2 – Get permission

If you are raising money on the street or a public space, you must obtain a licence from the local council. A street licence must be applied for by the first day of the month before the bucket collection is due to take place. They will probably need to know how many collectors you plan to have and may wish to see a risk assessment – after your collection, they will also want to know how much was raised. There may be specific limitations on what you can and cannot do when street collecting, such as:

Each collector must be 25m apart.
Collectors cannot walk up or down the street.
You cannot have animals with you.
You may not shake or rattle the collection buckets or tins.

If you are raising money on private property (e.g. on the underground or in a Supermarket) you must ask the company/owners directly for permission. The best person to approach is often the Manager or ‘Charity Champion’. Make sure you get confirmation in writing.

Step 3 – Get your collectors

Round up your bucket collectors – speak to friends and family and persuade them to get involved and advertise through local Volunteer Centres.

Step 4 – Planning the day

Plan in advance where you would like your bucket collectors to stand and create a rota for them to make sure you have everywhere covered. Using your risk assessment, consider how you will manage the money raised, including counting, banking and sending to Teenage Cancer Trust.

Step 5 – The day itself and banking

Keep your bucket collectors enthusiasm up by talking to them and giving them some basic facts about Teenage Cancer Trust. Make sure you give them a full brief at the beginning of the day and thank them for their support.

For details of how to manage and bank the money raised, please refer to Paying in money.

Don’t forget to thank the venue, they may let you collect again!