I have been watching these two posts with interest, and have come to the conclusion that you guys need a few pointers on the collection of monies from the general public.
haveing been secretary of Fleetwood's RNLI fund raising committee for a couple of years, some years ago it would seem to me that you might need some info on Protocol.
IF COLLECTING FOR THE RNLI you will firstly need to notify them of that collection or sponsored event.
They as a charity have to protect themselves legally in every way possible to prevent someone claiming against themselves in the event of an accident to the third person whilst collecting in their name, and as such you ALL have to sign indemnity clauses to state that you will not and cannot make such claims for property or injury INCLUDING death whilst doing so!.
You will NOT be allowed to collect in public places and this is against the law of the land should you try......this is because all charities have to gain liscences to collect in a certain area, and usually councils will only allow ONE liscence per area per year...........just to give all charities an equal chance...there is no exeption, and should you be found collecting in public places, those councils could/will prosecute for begging and vagrancy.
You are only allowed to collect in private places such as inside shops( if they will allow)pubs , clubs and other private places which can be restricting depending on where you wish to do the event.
You first have to go via the RNLI headquarters in Poole who will emailyou a form to fill in with the indemnity clause and doo's and don't of the event and collecting, and then they will notify the regional office who will contact you with regards to official sponsor forms....you can't use your own on this matter, and then will ask if you want the help of the local RNLI, the RNLI womens Guild of the area and if they can supply you with official stickers and such.
IT ALL TAKES TIME I started organising this Loch Ness do last September for the officialdome of it.........so if you ARE SERIOUSLY PLANNING such an event, then I suggest that you make good formativwe plans very soon and then submit to the RNLI...they won't grant you a liscence for official collecting on their behalf, if your trip isn't planned well with safety aspects in place AND if there is a risk to life and craft.
Just thought you might want to know about the pitfalls of collecting for the RNLI.
After all their job iss to save lives, NOT to put lives in dangeron their behalf.