Bucket Collections

Bucket Collections can be a really effective way to fundraise and help meet a target. You might know it as people at York Rail Station asking for donations or you may have seen a bunch of fundraisers in fancy dress in your hometown with collection buckets.

This form of physical fundraising is a great way of raising awareness, getting people talking and can be really fun, but it's important you are aware of the rules and regulations beforehand.

Collection Permits

If you are planning on doing a collection off campus, then you must have received permission from the council to do this. 

If you're raising money for your student group own funds, contact Jasmine, York SU's Fundraising and Volunteering Coordinator at j.pledger@yorksu.org who can help apply for a permit for you.

If you're raising money for charity, then get in touch with the charity to ask for them to make a permit application.

The permit will detail the names of the streets and the date upon which you are licensed to fundraise.

There are two types of permit that City of York Council may allocate:

•  A Static Street Collection Permit - if you intend to stay in one place whilst collecting

• A Mobile Street Collection Permit - If you intend to follow a route whilst collecting

Anyone can ask to see this permit so make sure it is with you during your collection.

Bucket Seals

Your fundraising buckets and tins will need security stickers which show that you are a legitimate fundraiser. York SU RAG can provide you with the buckets and stickers. 

Your buckets need to be numbered and the seal needs to clearly show the name of the charity and the date you are collecting on. 

Your fundraising bucket should also clearly state who you are raising money.

Bucket Shaking rules

Shaking buckets whilst fundraising is an issue, and although not explicitly stated as illegal, the guidance from the Metropolitan Police is that: 

"No collection shall be in such a manner as to cause, or be likely to cause, danger, obstruction, inconvenience or annoyance to any person. So shaking your bucket and demanding money is not the way to go."

Bucket Collection Top Tips

• Wear costumes or charity t-shirts. You need to stand out in the street, so members of the public will actually take the time to notice you, or know who you are fundraising for.

• Be respectful, you're acting as a representative of your student group or a charity, so ensure you're respectful to anyone even if they don't choose to donate.

• Consider your location, you don't want to block any exits or access routes and be in the way, but you don't want to be hidden away so people miss you.

• Do your research, making sure you're knowledgeable on what your charity does and where the money will be going. People are far more likely to donate to a cause where they can clearly understand its purpose and how their money will help. 

• Be active in your approach, whilst you shouldn't be shaking your bucket, ask passers by if they would like to talk to you and draw them in rather than waiting for someone to come and talk to you.

• Attitude. It's easy to lose motivation if you're struggling to have conversations or gather donations, but do your best to stay positive and keep an enthusiastic smile, no one will want to talk to you if you look unhappy and bored.

Contact your link staff member or our Volunteering Team (volunteering@yorksu.org)