Collecting tins

It’s often said that the simplest ideas are the best. And when it comes to raising money for charity the humble collection tin is a powerful tool.  While it’s true that larger and more complex events do generate more money, these can be demanding to organise. 

A collection is simple to organise, requires no specialist skills and can still generate a significant amount of money.

Practical steps

1. Decide where and when you want to hold your collection. If you know someone who’s held a collection in the area before, ask them for their advice on the best locations.
2. Obtain permission!
• If you want to hold a street collection you will need to contact your Local Authority to obtain a permit. Permits are free and, due to high demand, it is recommended that you make contact at least 6 weeks in advance and sooner, if possible. 
• If you want to collect at a London underground station you will need to approach the Charity Co-ordinator at the London Underground Service Centre. Requests must be written on the charity’s headed paper and include your contact details.  Our fundraising team will be pleased to help with the letter and may be contacted either by email at fundraising@eczema.org or by phone on 020 7281 3553. 
• When applying for more than one station, or to collect throughout the year, you must submit a list of chosen stations and dates specifying whether the collection will take place in the morning or afternoon. The Charity Co-ordinator will then send you a letter of authorisation to collect at the chosen station(s) on the chosen date(s).  The Station Supervisor will be notified in advance of your arrival and collections may only take place in the ticket hall area. Once the collection has been completed, a record must be made of the amount collected and this information must be returned to the Charity Co-ordinator at: LUS Charity Co-ordinator, Customer Service Centre, 55 Broadway, London SW1H 0BD.
• If you want to collect at your local Morrisons, Sainsbury’s, Somerfield or Asda store, you will need to approach them directly. Those wishing to collect at Tesco Superstores and Extra stores should contact: Tesco Charity Co-ordinator, Tel: 020 7071 2111.  People wishing to collect at Tesco Metros and high-street stores should contact their local Store Manager to book a collection. Tesco does not book collections outside its Express stores.
3. Tell our fundraising team (either by email at fundraising@eczema.org or by phone on 020 7281 3553) what you’re doing and when!   We can supply you with National Eczema Society collection tins, posters, leaflets and stickers to ensure that you look the part on the big day and stand out from the crowd.
4. Make sure you and your fellow fundraisers know enough about eczema.  Although many people will simply be interested in which organisation you are raising money for, some will want to know more about the condition and how their money will help.
5. Although people of any age can help at the event, you must be over 16 to hold a collection tin. Fundraisers are also required to stand in one place and cannot actively solicit money (i.e. rattle their tins or ask for donations), although they can of course talk to people about the condition and the Society. 

Successful fundraiser, Lisa Weaver, has this advice

Make sure you stand out! Either dress up or have a talking point. When we wet wrapped motorbikes, it generated huge amounts of interest and dressing up can be as simple as wearing your pyjamas.

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Registered office: Hill House, Highgate Hill, London, N19 5NA UK