House-to-house collections licence

Licence summary

To carry out house-to-house collections for charitable purposes in England and Wales you need a licence from the local authority.

In an effort to ensure that charities have a fair chance to raise funds we will not give permission for more than one collection in the same area on the same day. Licences are issued on a first-come first-serve basis. We will only issue licences for specific dates and areas. We will not issue an annual licence for the whole district to any organisation. Our most recent diary for house to house Oct 2012 is available on this link. Click here for our diary for house to house collections for 2013. Please use this to select your preferred dates. The Forest of Dean covers a very large area. A map of the parishes in the District is available so that you can select the areas in which you wish to collect.

If a resident wishes to check whether a house to house collection has a licence they may check the diary above. If a collection is taking place that does not appear to hold a licence, please contact us as soon as possible with details of any vehicle involved, if possible. However some charities have a Cabinet Office exemption and don't need to get permission from the Council. Check here if a charity is exempt. 

Eligibility Criteria

Applications must be in the form prescribed by the local authority.

You must be a fit and proper person.

Regulation Summary

A summary of the regulation relating to this licence

Application Evaluation Process

No provision in the legislation

Will Tacit Consent Apply?

Yes. This means that you will be able to act as though your application is granted if you have not heard from the local authority by the end of the target completion period.

Apply online

Apply to run a charitable collection

Notify us of the result of a charitable collection

Failed Application Redress

Please contact your Local Authority in the first instance.

You have the right to appeal to the Minister for the Cabinet Office.

Appeals must be lodged within 14 days of the refusal.

Licence Holder Redress

Please contact your Local Authority in the first instance.

You have the right to appeal to the Minister for the Cabinet Office.

Appeals must be lodged within 14 days of the decision.

Consumer Complaint

We would always advise that in the event of a complaint the first contact is made with the trader by you - preferably in the form a letter (with proof of delivery). If that has not worked, if you are located in the UK, Consumer Direct will give you advice. From outside the UK contact the UK European Consumer Centre .

Other Redress

E.g. about noise, pollution, etc. Also should one licence holder complain about another.

Trade Associations

None

Contact Us

Licensing Team
Council Offices
High Street
Coleford
Gloucestershire
GL16 8HG

Tel: 01594 812445
Fax: 01594 812590
Email: mailto:Licensing@fdean.gov.uk