FAQs

1. Why save acres with World Land Trust?

Protecting land with World Land Trust (WLT) offers numerous significant benefits. WLT helps conserve some of the world’s most biologically significant and threatened habitats, ensuring the survival of diverse species. By preserving forests and other natural landscapes, WLT projects also provide climate benefits. The organisation funds the creation of reserves that offer permanent protection for habitats and wildlife.

Since its foundation in 1989, WLT has placed local people at the heart of every project. It collaborates with local in country organisations to deliver these projects, engaging with local communities and fostering sustainable land management practices. This aligns with WLT’s mission to help people worldwide protect and restore their land to safeguard biodiversity and the climate.

2. How is WLT different to the other organisations buying rainforest?

When we started the Programme for Belize, we were the only organization in Britain focused on ‘buying’ rainforest. Due to the success of this approach in saving rainforests and other habitats, several other organizations have adopted it as a fundraising method. Most of these organizations are doing excellent work, and we welcome their involvement—there is a vast amount of rainforest and other habitats that need saving, and the more people involved, the better.

Before making any charitable donation, it’s essential to thoroughly check the charity. Look at its annual report and accounts, see who the staff and trustees are, and assess their experience and knowledge in conservation. Here are some key points that we feel sets WLT apart:

• Track Record of Achievements: WLT has a proven history of successful conservation projects.
• Local Implementation: Projects are implemented by local people working for local organizations.
• Expertise: WLT boasts a high level of expertise among all staff and trustees.
• Permanent Protection: Habitats are purchased for permanent protection, not just limited sponsorship.
• Long-standing Operation: WLT has been operating since 1989, focusing on saving existing, mature forests.
• Transparency: WLT is transparent about its expenditure and the people involved in the Trust.
• Earmarked Donations: You can earmark donations for specific projects, ensuring your contribution goes exactly where you want it to.

4. Can I become a member of WLT?

WLT has never run a traditional membership scheme, instead focusing on encouraging donors to make regular donations. However we have the WLT Friends scheme where supporters can pledge a monthly donation of £5 or more via Direct Debit. This regular support helps WLT plan vital land purchases, knowing that donations are pledged in advance. WLT Friends are the backbone of WLT, and their commitment and support influence other individual and corporate supporters when choosing to support us.

Would you like more information on how to become a WLT Friend or other ways to support WLT, if so please click here

1. When I buy an acre of rainforest or other habitat, what does that mean?

The acres of threatened habitat we ‘sell’ are real acres in real places, but you do not actually own them. The land is always owned and managed by WLT’s Local Partners in the countries where we operate.

The price of £100 an acre is an average. We have worked out, what we consider to be a fair average, taking into account the costs of actual purchase (legal fees, taxes etc).

2. How can I be sure that land I have helped protect will remain safe from threats such as mining or agriculture?

This is a difficult question to answer, as it depends entirely on the country involved, and its system of land protection.

What we can say is that every reserve that our donors have ever helped fund still exists, is not threatened by agriculture, and many have received protection by state legislation. We work with a network of local partners who are experts on land conservation in their countries who advise on the best form of protection in local regions considering the threats faced.

However, in some countries, mining and oil exploration will always be a potential issue, since in many places underground resources are owned by the state. This can be mitigated by carrying out due diligence, and ensuring that good relations are maintained with relevant government authorities, which our partners excel at.

3. Can I visit where my acre is?

In some case it is possible to visit the area you have helped protect, though we do not identify individual acres. Some of our partner organisations have eco-tourism offerings and these can be found on their websites.

4. In which project areas will my £100 save One Acre?

Land prices vary by location. A donation of £100 will save one acre on average in many of our project areas. Please see our Buy an Acre appeal page for more details about locations. Donations to the Buy an Acre Fund will be used in the project area where it is most urgently needed among the projects where £100 saves an acre.

In some project areas land prices are much more expensive and variable, and we are therefore unable to specify in advance how many acres your donation will buy. However, rest assured that your donation to these projects will be used for land purchase and protection and nothing else.

1. How is £100 per acre figure arrived at?

The price of £100 an acre is an average. This is because not only do land values vary geographically, but they also vary locally. Access to roads, whether or not there is forest, or if they have been cleared for cattle ranching all affect the price. So we have worked out, what we consider to be a fair average, taking into account the costs of actual purchase (legal fees, taxes etc) but not including long-term management and protection. In some parts of South America our partners are able to buy land very cheaply, and it is in those projects area where we offer our supporters the chance to save an acre for £100.

It is a complex issue, and for donors making large donations we are always happy to discuss an individual project and what the exact costs are. But rest assured, donors ‘buying’ half an acre, one acre or five acres: £100 really does, on average, save an acre.

In other parts of the world, land is very much more expensive and land prices vary enormously, which means that for our projects in those areas we are unable to specify in advance how many acres your donation will save.

2. Why are not all projects £100 an acre?

How much land your donation will save depends on the project area. In some parts of South America our partners are able to buy land very cheaply. In other parts of the world, land is very much more expensive and land prices vary enormously. For donations to these areas we don’t always know in advance how many acres your donation will be able to buy. What we can guarantee, is that your donation will be used for land purchase and protection and nothing else. Your donation is saving real acres in real places, permanently – it is not a limited sponsorship or ‘adoption’ of a piece of land sold over and over again.

3. How do I know where my donation goes?

WLT ensures transparency and accountability in how donations are used. Here are some ways donors can track their contributions:

• Detailed Reports: WLT provides Annual Reports and Accounts that outline how funds are allocated and spent. These documents are accessible to the public and offer a comprehensive overview of the organisation’s financial activities.
• Project Updates: Donors receive regular updates on the progress of specific projects they have supported. These updates include information on the impact of their donations and the advancements made in conservation efforts
• Earmarked Donations: Donors can earmark their contributions for specific projects where possible, ensuring their funds are directed towards particular conservation initiatives
• Transparency: WLT is committed to being transparent about its expenditure and the people involved in the Trust. This includes information about staff, trustees, and their expertise in conservation

1. Why are you buying land – isn’t it best to work with local people?

This question addresses two important points. First, World Land Trust itself owns no land outside the UK, and has a strict policy that includes local people in all its projects. Before a project is initiated WLT identifies a local partner organisation with whom a Memorandum of Understanding is signed and a work programme agreed. Ownership of the land purchased is with this partner organisation, not WLT.

WLT is responsible for fundraising and overseeing the project in the early stages and the local organisation works with the local community to achieve the conservation goals. Support from local government is also a top priority. Local people are employed as park wardens and, when possible, local scientists are used to carry out research at the project sites; also volunteers from nearby towns and universities are invited to take part in projects to conserve their native land and wildlife.

Secondly, why buy the land? There is much debate about the ‘correct’ way to conserve land, and we do recognise that land purchase is only one of the several methods that can ensure the survival of threatened habitats. However, WLT feels that ownership of land gives a great deal more control over its future than other forms of protection, and, once purchased, the land belongs to the local organisations who take over the responsibility for its protection. See Land Purchase as a Tool for Conservation for more details on our land purchase policy.

2. What happens to the land after it has been bought?

A management plan is developed by WLT and its local partner, aimed at securing legal protection for the land. Each project, because of its urgency and degree of threat, comes with a different set of problems, and so the solutions for each will differ, but long term conservation of the land and its wildlife is always the key objective.

In addition to land protection, WLT also helps develop forms of sustainable and environmentally friendly income activities for the local community. This might be ecotourism, crafts or sustainable forestry on the land, with a view to assisting the project to become an independent entity and not reliant on further funds from the Trust. After this, the project continues to be managed by the local partner, leaving WLT to fundraise to save more threatened land elsewhere.

3. How can you ensure that the land is adequately protected and not used and/or destroyed by people after it has been purchased?

Unfortunately there is no single answer to this question. As mentioned above, because each project presents its unique problems we need to find different ways of ensuring protection. The essential element of all our operations is that we work with local people, and enthuse them about ‘their’ habitats and ‘their’ wildlife.

By involving local conservationists and local communities we reduce the risks of encroachment considerably; they know the local situation and can head off any potential conflicts. If there is occasional incursion into the forests this is quickly dealt with by park wardens who are familiar with the borders.

We believe that maintaining an active and visible presence, through wardens and researchers, and providing jobs for local people, is an effective method to ensure long-term security. And of course, the purchase of the land ensures that our local partners have clear title to the land, so that any encroachment would be illegal.

4. Shouldn’t you be saving land in the UK, rather than abroad?

Britain boasts an extensive network of protected areas, managed by organisations with whom we have strong relationships and offer our full support. However, WLT primarily focuses its efforts overseas, where we believe we can achieve the greatest impact. While WLT does have one small UK reserve at Kites Hill, this land was generously gifted to us and did not involve purchase costs.

5. Why does WLT raise funds to purchase land inside areas designated as reserves? Surely land inside a reserve is already protected?

In many countries including the UK, the fact that land is designated as a protected area and governed by the state does not necessarily mean that it is being managed for conservation. Biosphere reserves, national parks and protected areas will usually include some element of privately owned land – as is the case with national parks in Britain. Funding for national parks is often inadequate and those living within parks or within a park’s sphere of influence may not be provided with alternative sources of income or other motivations to be stewards of the land. If resources are not mobilised for effective management, protected areas can be little more than “paper parks” and serve little or no conservation function. Therefore, when WLT puts funds towards purchasing land within a reserve, it is because the property being purchased will only be fully protected for conservation if the land is owned by a local conservation organisation.

1. How do you decide where to protect land?

WLT decides where to protect land via many means and every potential project which comes to WLT is put through a stringent evaluation process, carried out by the WLT team and the Conservation Advisory Panel (CAP).

But key to every project is the in country organisations who are typically NGOs or not-for-profit organisations focused on biodiversity and ecosystem conservation. However, WLT may also support other organisations, including development NGOs, indigenous groups, and eco-tourism companies, if they can effectively bring land into conservation and lack other funding sources.

WLT funding supports long-term, sustainable conservation activities such as land acquisition, protected area creation, reserve protection, and ecosystem restoration. WLT prioritises projects in countries with high biodiversity and limited resources for protection, mainly supporting organisations in the Global South. Key activities include creating protected areas, protecting and restoring threatened habitats, and implementing mechanisms like land purchases, leases, conservation easements, community reserves, and legal declarations of protected areas.

WLT’s core focus is on bringing new areas of land into conservation protection, but it also supports related activities like habitat protection, restoration, community engagement, research, monitoring, and income generation for financial sustainability. All funded projects must have clear benefits and no net negative impact on biodiversity, communities, and the climate.

For more information about how WLT selects its project please click here – World Land Trust project proposal guidelines

2. Do you work with other organisations?

Yes, always. All our project projects are carried out with local non-government organisations (NGOs) and WLT now has an extensive network of Partners around the world who receive funding along with a network of Operational Partners who we work collaboratively with.

3. Should this be the responsibility of Governments? Why is it left to individuals?

In many parts of the world, governments simply do not have the funds to adequately protect the land they already own. Many developing countries are heavily in debt to the developed world, and we all share a responsibility for ensuring that the world’s wildlife survives into the future. Wherever possible we try to ensure that we have the support of the local government and we are working particularly closely with the government of Paraguay.

4. How was World Land Trust started?

In January 1989, the Massachusetts Audubon Society made a grant of US$10,000 (approx. £6,670) to John Burton to set up an office in the UK, for the sole purpose of raising funds for a brand new project concept: Programme for Belize. The target was to double the original US$10,000 by the end of the year, but by the time of the official launch, in May, when the late Gerald Durrell, and his wife, Lee, came over from Jersey to officiate, £25,000 had already been raised. The charity was formed and subsequently became World Land Trust.

1. Are there any jobs going with WLT?

The WLT is a relatively small organisation, and our staff turnover is extremely low. Jobs at WLT’s office in Suffolk, UK are posted on our vacancies page.

From time to time our overseas conservation partners recruit internationally. Details of paid positions, that are relevant to international applicants, with partner organisations will be detailed in the news pages of WLT website.

2. Can I volunteer to work overseas with your projects?

World Land Trust does not run general volunteer programmes at our project areas, although we do encourage our supporters to visit our partners’ projects and to offer voluntary assistance.  If the organisation runs a volunteering programme we suggest applying to them directly (contact details for all our project partners are on our website).

Very occasionally, World Land Trust is asked by one of its project partners to recruit an international volunteer, to acquire a specialist skill not available locally. These skills have been very varied – from drainage engineers, skilled builders, and marketing experts. These opportunities will be advertised on our vacancies page as and when they arise.

3. Can I do a gap year project overseas with WLT?

World Land Trust does not currently have programmes for gap year students.

1. Can I get a grant from World Land Trust?

World Land Trust does not give grants to individuals, and does not support expeditions. Grants are normally only made to NGOs with a good track record of land management. Before applying to the WLT it is essential to have read the project proposal guidelines

2. How can I contact Sir David Attenborough?

Sir David asks us to remind enquirers that he is in his 90s and is not taking on new commitments. He is still heavily involved in filming and is booked up many months in advance so is generally unable to accept invitations to speak at events and conferences. Also please note that Sir David is unable to endorse products, read manuscripts, accept invitations to write forewords in books or attend book launches. As you may expect, he is bombarded with requests and consequently, we are reluctant to pass on letters. If you really believe your wish to contact him is important you can write to him c/o WLT and we will forward the letter. (Please note that we can only forward actual letters, not emails, and we cannot guarantee a response.)

3. Can World Land Trust supply speakers on conservation?

WLT can  supply a representative to speak at a public or private event if travel expenses are reimbursed (and very occasionally, when they are not). Speakers are usually staff members, but from time to time we do have interns and other volunteers who are prepared to give talks. Please bear in mind the costs of travel from East Suffolk, and also the time involved..

Background

World Land Trust (WLT) works with its in-country conservation partners to protect biologically significant areas of land. Sites are selected based on how rich they are in biodiversity and what benefits they can bring to local communities, always with a view to furthering our long-term conservation goals that focus on creating, connecting, expanding and enriching protected areas. While securing surviving areas of healthy natural habitat is vital, the prevalence of degraded habitat around the world makes habitat restoration an essential part of the work we do.

By restoring degraded habitats, we can improve their capacity to support life. Restoration can also reconnect isolated patches of existing habitat, strengthening the wider ecosystem and facilitating safe wildlife movement. The restoration work itself can provide employment for local communities, who also stand to benefit from ecosystem services (food, clean water, flood mitigation, etc.) when the trees mature. Reforestation is one of the main methods of restoration and WLT supports its partners throughout this process, from the planting and care of young trees through years of maintenance work until a new forest habitat is established.

Every year WLT funds restoration work in a variety of conservation projects, some of which are supported by WLT’s Plant a Tree programme. A £5 donation to this programme will plant and nurture one tree for the first two to three years of its life, funding also a replacement tree if the first should happen to die during this time.

Reforestation projects

All of WLT’s in-country partners and projects are unique; however, our reforestation projects adhere to the following general principles to ensure they are of a high standard. All projects must have clear conservation outcomes, for example – like reconnecting habitats and providing food for wildlife – while also providing benefits to local communities.

• The techniques used for reforestation must be those that are most appropriate for the project site. Both the reforestation site and the techniques are selected by WLT’s in-country partners, who have the local knowledge and expertise to lead the project in the field
• Our partners ensure that they or a vetted expert contractor (where applicable) have the legal and management rights to restore these areas, ensuring also that there is free prior informed consent from local communities and appropriate authorities.
• Reforestation is primarily undertaken with a mixture of native species that are local to the area, although non-native species may be supported if there is a clear conservation objective. Some may be pioneer species that can colonise degraded areas and lay the foundation for native plants that are less hardy. Others can be used to establish woodlots (areas for local communities to harvest timber and other resources sustainably).
• Where possible, native species for planting are sourced locally to ensure trees come from the local genetic source and are adapted to the local environment. Otherwise, seeds or seedlings are purchased from a reputable source, particularly if overharvesting could damage the native forest.
• Reforestation projects may include active restoration – planting out tree saplings – as well as assisted natural regeneration, where our partners support and accelerate the natural successional processes by removing and reducing barriers to natural forest regeneration, such as soil degradation, competition with weed species, and recurring disturbance (e.g. fires or cattle grazing).
• Preparation of the site before planting may involve clearing ground vegetation, including cutting and, where strictly necessary, the controlled use of approved herbicides.
• Where required and deemed essential by the partner, natural fertilisers (e.g. compost/ manure) and approved chemical fertilisers are used to enhance the trees’ early growth and survival.
• WLT requests that partners avoid the use of natural fertilisers and growing mediums that contain peat, as peat extraction can be damaging to habitats like bogs, moors and fens, as well as a source of carbon emissions.
• Ongoing care of saplings is key in the first years after planting. Our partners will clear surrounding grasses and other competing vegetation to enhance tree survival rates, often employing local community members to assist in the work.
• Our partners monitor and report on the survival rate of planted trees for up to 5 years after tree planting has occurred and undertake replacement planting to ensure an overall high survival rate across the site.
• While our partners work hard to try to ensure a high survival rate of planted trees from pre-selected species at the reforestation site, our partners also encourage the colonisation of other native plants and trees from the surrounding area as natural processes take over and birds and mammals disperse seeds into the site.
• Partners continue to protect and monitor all planted areas until such time as the sites are established as areas of forest and can be incorporated into a partner reserve, or other type of protected area, to be protected in perpetuity.

Project costs

The cost of planting a tree varies among WLT’s restoration projects due to varying local conditions and project costs of each area, including differences in site preparation, maintenance requirement, local labour costs and the scale of the project. For example, reforestation projects in dry environments typically require more stringent site preparation and ongoing care (e.g. increased watering) in order to be successful.

WLT takes account of these differences by using an average ‘per tree’ cost spread across all our restoration projects. A donation of £5 to WLT’s Plant a Tree programme will fund the planting and care of a tree through to its establishment as part of a wider forest within a protected area.

Project activities vary, but in general a donation to Plant a Tree will cover the following: seed/seedling/sapling collection; nursery costs; site preparation; planting and protection; replacement planting; tree monitoring and maintenance for the first two to three years and continued monitoring until the point at which the tree is established; operational costs and salaries for the project partner and local people; and WLT overheads (18%) and management costs.

Habitat restoration and Plant a Tree

What does my £5 donation pay for?

Reforestation activities vary between projects, but in general all projects cover the following:

• Cost of seed/seedling/sapling collection or purchase
• Nursery costs
• Plot preparation
• Planting and protection (usually salaries of local people or staff employed by partner)
• Replacement of a sapling if it dies within two years after it is planted
• Active tree monitoring and maintenance for the first two to three years and continued monitoring up to the point at which the tree is established
• Partner operational costs
• WLT’s programme costs and overheads to oversee and monitor the project

How does WLT determine which reforestation projects to support?

As with all projects proposed to WLT, all new restoration proposals are reviewed by WLT’s Programmes team to assess the project’s suitability. WLT’s Conservation Advisory Panel, a group of independent conservation experts, will also make a recommendation based on the conservation merit of a potential project. WLT follows internal criteria (such as assessing the benefits the project will bring to wildlife and local communities) as well as standards around governance, accountability and finances.

What types of projects are WLT funding?

Each project is unique and provides benefits beyond tree-planting, for the wider environment, conservation of wildlife and local people. WLT’s various reforestation projects work to restore and improve habitat quality in order to reconnect forest patches, alongside engaging and supporting local communities in different ways, for example providing employment. To find out more about our current Plant a Tree projects, visit the programme webpage here.

What types of forest are WLT restoring?

Because our partners are based all around the world, WLT has funded restoration in a variety of different forest types, from the lush rainforests of Ecuador to the dry forests of Paraguay. To find out more about the forests supported by our current Plant a Tree projects, visit the programme webpage here.

How does WLT select where to plant trees?

WLT’s in-country partners are responsible for selecting sites suitable for tree-planting, based on their local knowledge and expertise. The selected sites will be areas of degraded habitat that cannot regenerate naturally and can be restored to a healthy natural state through reforestation, bringing benefits to biodiversity and local communities. Sites will often be selected strategically so the degraded habitat, once restored, will connect or reconnect isolated forest patches. Building this habitat connectivity into a landscape is important for species survival, as it facilitates safe wildlife movement and can help to preserve the genetic diversity of many species.

Are all the trees planted native?

Our partners select all tree species to be planted, usually collecting seeds from the local area and propagating them in nurseries. As our projects focus on restoring native forest habitats, in most cases all of the trees planted will be native to the country where the project is taking place. However, there are exceptions where the use of non-native species is agreed in advance with WLT, providing there is a clear requirement and conservation objective. For example, planting woodlots made up of fast-growing non-native species can provide food, timber and other resources for local communities, helping them to reduce their reliance on native forest habitat.

Who monitors and maintains the trees after they are planted?

Generally all reforestation work is carried out by our in-country partners, usually in collaboration with paid local community members. Most of our partners operate in areas of the Global South where job opportunities may be scarce or underpaid and people may live below the poverty line – in these areas, tree-planting and other activities, like seed collection and nursery work, provide an important source of income.

What does the monitoring and maintenance process involve?

Part of your £5 donation covers active monitoring and maintenance for your planted tree over the first two to three years of its life. This work is essential to the survival of the tree and varies between the different projects but it can include activities like watering, clearing vegetation from around the tree, installing tree guards or fencing and monitoring the survival rate of tees at the restoration site. Where possible, and provided it is appropriate for the project, our partners will also engage in assisted natural regeneration. This is maintenance specifically for trees that were already growing at the reforestation site prior to the start of the project. Assisted natural regeneration can play an important role in the recovery of degraded habitat to a healthy natural state.

What happens if a planted tree dies?

If the tree funded by your £5 donation dies within two years after it is planted, our partner will replace it with a new sapling. This is covered in the cost of your donation. Your donation may also cover the costs of further replacements, although this is rare and depends on the project. It should be noted that no tree-planting project will have a 100% survival rate – even with proper ongoing monitoring and maintenance, there will still be some level of natural mortality among the saplings. Provided there are no major obstacles, our partners’ monitoring and maintenance will ensure enough saplings survive to maturity to restore the full number of hectares outlined at the project’s start.

How does WLT ensure its projects are successful?

Many tree-planting projects fail because there is no maintenance and monitoring process in place to secure the long-term survival of the saplings. Although labour-intensive and time-consuming, all of WLT’s reforestation partners implement comprehensive maintenance and monitoring plans to help their saplings grow well until the point at which they are established. Our partners will continue to protect these areas by incorporating them into their own network of reserves or into other types of protected areas. WLT’s ongoing support to our partners for rangers and other conservation work then ensures these areas are protected in perpetuity.

How does WLT determine when an area is restored?

WLT supports our local partners to monitor and protect planted areas until the point at which the trees are established, with the trees forming a young forest that no longer requires active maintenance to survive. No tree-planting project will have a 100% survival rate, particularly in the early stages when saplings are not well established, but after at least two to three years of maintenance and monitoring most trees will be mature enough for natural mortality rates to be low. Some projects will carry out maintenance over a longer period where required.

Can I offset my carbon emissions by donating to Plant a Tree?

While every tree you plant helps fight climate change, the Plant a Tree programme does not currently offer carbon mitigation. This is because carbon mitigation projects require stringent reporting and certification processes.

Organisations can mitigate their carbon emissions through WLT’s Carbon Balanced programme. This includes a project in the Albertine Rift of western Uganda, managed by our partner, the Environmental Conservation Trust of Uganda (ECOTRUST). This project is certified to the Plan Vivo Carbon Standard (PV Climate) and provides climate benefits through carbon sequestration via reforestation (farmer-led forestry/agroforestry projects), reducing pressure on natural forest resources, and improving rural livelihoods.

Can I volunteer to help plant trees in WLT projects?

There is currently no volunteer reforestation scheme. The capacity of our partners varies widely and they are generally not able to accommodate volunteers. Currently all reforestation work is carried out by our in-country partners, usually in collaboration with paid local community members, for whom this work provides an important source of income.

Fundraising

Does World Land Trust have places available in events like the London Marathon?

Charity places in the London Marathon are very hard to obtain and if you would like to run for us, you will have to enter through the general ballot.

How should I collect money?

It really helps us if you can use our online fundraising facilities, but if you’d like a paper sponsorship form please contact [email protected]. We do ask our fundraisers not to collect funds through their own websites and third party bank/PayPal accounts.

Can you supply collection boxes?

Yes, we can supply collection boxes to individual fundraisers and corporate supporters. You will need to confirm in writing that you agree to our collection box policy, and in particular that

• The box will not be used for street or door-to-door fundraising.
• It will be kept secure.
• Funds will be passed to WLT quarterly (long-term fundraising) or promptly after the event (one-off events).
• Individuals requesting a box are aged 16 or over.

If you would like a box please contact us

When should I pass my funds to WLT?

By law, you must pass funds raised for World Land Trust to us within the timeframe we request, and we ask to receive funds within 6 weeks. If you have raised money using an online fundraising site, this is passed to us automatically.

Is my fundraising legal?

Please do contact WLT when you’re at the planning stage of your fundraising, as we will be able to advise you if there may be any problems. Here are some things to bear in mind:

• Collecting money door-to-door is illegal unless you have a licence, and we ask our supporters not to raise funds for us in this way. You also need a licence and permission from your local authority if you are planning to sell goods or collect money in a public place.
• If you are preparing food and drink for public consumption as part of an event, you are responsible under the Food Safety Act (1990) for making sure that everything supplied is deemed fit and safe. This covers food and drink sold or raffled for charity and supplied free to the public.
• Holding a raffle is fine if it’s part of a bigger event and there are no cash prizes, but other raffles may be unlawful.