| When you are fundraising for the British Red Cross, you are representing an international humanitarian organisation, so we ask you to comply with our fundraising rules, the relevant laws and regulations and be guided by the fundamental principles in all that you do.
Registered charity number | Top |
On all printed materials you use, including letters, tickets and posters, you must state that the British Red Cross is a registered charity, number 220949.
The emblem of a red cross on a white background is an internationally agreed symbol of protection during armed conflicts and there are strict rules governing its use. Please do not use it in any printed materials without contacting your local fundraiser for clarification.
Use of the words ‘Red Cross’ is also protected by law.
To collect on private property such as a pub that’s not part of a chain, supermarket or train station, you only need the permission of the owner or manager of the outlet.
Many private premises have strict rules on the number of collections per charity, so please speak to the Red Cross fundraiser in your area to ensure that no existing collections are jeopardised.
House-to-house collections | Top |
The Red Cross limits house-to-house collections to Red Cross Week only.
A house-to-house collection includes door-to-door visits to people’s homes, as well as to public buildings (such as chain pubs), offices and factories to appeal for money, other items (such as clothes), or to sell things in aid of charity.
The Red Cross has a house-to-house licence exemption order so you do not need to obtain a licence. However, there are certain rules, regulations and procedures that must be followed.
As a holder of an exemption order, the Red Cross is in a relatively privileged position and it is recognised that this brings responsibilities that should be fulfilled. The Red Cross fundraiser in your area can tell you more about this.
A standard form of fundraising at many events is the sale of raffle tickets or scratch cards, or a tombola or prize draw. These are all forms of lotteries and are regulated by the law.
A lottery involves the distribution of prizes by chance where a person pays for that chance. As soon as an element of skill is involved, or a person does not have to pay to enter, this is outside the scope of being a lottery.
The law distinguishes between three main types of lotteries:
- small lotteries
- private lotteries
- society lotteries.
The main type of lottery for the purpose of the Red Cross will be small lotteries. In this respect, the following conditions must be met:
- Tickets for small lotteries can only be sold during the event although you can advertise them beforehand.
- You must not have money prizes (although store vouchers are fine).
- You must not spend more than £250 on prizes (donated prizes don’t count).
- Tickets must not be more than £2 each and all tickets must have an equal chance of winning.
- The result of the small lottery raffle must be drawn at the event.
- The proceeds, after deducting certain expenses (e.g. printing of tickets) must go to the British Red Cross.
- Permission may be required from the local police for alcoholic prizes.
Please contact the Red Cross fundraiser in your area if you have any questions.
If you want to sell alcoholic drinks at your event and the venue is not already licensed, you will need to speak to your local Red Cross fundraiser, who can advise you on how to obtain a licence.
If you have any other questions, please contact the Red Cross fundraiser near you for clarification. | 
