Public fundraising

Public fundraising means reaching out to find new supporters. Due to the type of activity and the level of engagement with the public it’s important you pay attention to safeguarding in this area.

• You must take care when recruiting anyone who will collect funds publicly or on the doorstep for your charity.
• You must train people with care to make sure they can do the job safely and well.
• You must plan your sessions so they do not put undue pressure on the public.
• You must make sure people can easily make a complaint.
• You must have a good plan for handling money.

There is no set requirement on what background checks should be taken for fundraising in this way. Every organisation must make their own decision based on the frequency with which people are carrying out the task, the likelihood of engaging with vulnerable people and the potential of access to people’s financial details. You must also make your own decisions about references, trial periods and about the training you provide.

You have a responsibility not to put undue pressure on members of the public. This means you need to check the frequency of collections with the local authority so you can try not to overlap with other charities. You should always know where and for how long your fundraisers are operating.

You must think hard about how you’ll provide information about making a complaint. Is it accessible?

Often charities use specialist fundraising agencies to deliver this kind of work. You are responsible for the work they carry out so you must make sure you are comfortable with their safeguarding practices.

• Want to explore the law relating to public fundraising? Read section 8 of the Fundraising Regulator's Code of Practice, which outlines the legal requirements for public fundraising.
• For more information about working with partners, see the third party fundraising section of this guide
• For more information on handling money, see the handling money section of this guide
• For more information about when roles are eligible for different levels of background check, see getting started with criminal records checks.