Cancer Research UK Street and Door to Door Activity - Frequently Asked Questions

Cancer Research UK carries out activity on the street and on the doorstep in a variety of different ways and in order to speak to as many people as possible we use a mixture of volunteer and professional fundraisers.

How do I know if a fundraiser is genuine?

All our Professional Fundraisers will always be wearing clothing in our brand colour of blue, for example a t-shirt or jacket. This clothing will also have our arrowhead brand logo easily identifiable (an example can be seen above, right).

Every fundraiser will always carry an identity badge or card to verify who they are and that they have permission to fundraise for us, but if you are ever in doubt about a fundraiser or have any concerns regarding them or their conduct, please contact our supporter services team on 020 7121 6699.

Why do you use this kind of activity?

1. On street
   

   Our Groups of Friends and Local Committees regularly carry out Street Collections in their local area. This is a well established method of volunteer fundraising and has been carried out by Cancer Research UK volunteers for many years. To collect in a public place the Group or Committee will always have obtained a licence to collect from the local authority.
   
   Groups and Committees also carry out collections on private property such as supermarkets, garden centres and shopping centres. A licence is not normally required for these collections but permission will be gained from the land owner and the collectors will carry ID badges.
   
   More recently since March 2007 the charity has also employed Professional Fundraisers on the street. These fundraisers collect the names and addresses of people wanting to help us beat cancer and then we can contact these individuals at a later date in order to find the best way to support Cancer Research UK. This method of fundraising is regulated by the PFRA.
   
   Speaking to people on the street through Professional Fundraisers is a very effective form of fundraising for Cancer Research UK and our hope is to encourage people to support the charity - this could be for example a financial monthly donation, campaigning, taking part in one of our events or volunteering.
   
   By undertaking this activity it also allows us to speak to people all over the country about the work that we do and the progress we are making, the steps people can take to reduce their risk, whilst also allowing us to thank personally those people who already support us.
   
   We hope to raise around £2.5m in donations over the next 5 years from supporters recruited this year from our Professional Fundraiser led street marketing campaigns.
   
   

2. Door to Door
   Collecting Direct Debit donations via the doorstep is a new activity for Cancer Research UK. From April, following a successful test phase, our Professional Fundraisers will be visiting doorsteps in different regions of the UK. As with street collection this method of fundraising allows us to speak directly to potential supporters of the charity. In the current economic climate we are finding it increasing difficult to obtain new supporters to the charity and are looking into new channels to raise vital funds to beat cancer.
   
   We hope to raise around £3.2m in donations over the next 5 years from supporters recruited this year from our Professional Fundraising door to door campaigns.
   
   Our Groups of Friends and Local Committees regularly carry out Door to Door (or house to house) collections in their local area. This is also a well established method of volunteer fundraising and has been carried out by Cancer Research UK volunteers for many years. To collect in a public place the Group or Committee will always have obtained agreement to collect from the local authority.
   
   Volunteers will either knock on doors and ask for a donation straight into a collecting tin or bucket or they will deliver envelopes for residents to put donations in and then pick them up a few days later.

Are your fundraisers paid?

Our Professional Fundraisers are paid a wage to fundraise on our behalf. They are always paid a set wage and are not working on commission. Fundraising on the street and at the doorstep via Professional Fundraisers is a very cost effective activity for the charity.

All our Group and Committee members and their supporters are volunteers.

Who should I contact if I want any more information or have a complaint?

If you would like any more information, or have a complaint about our on-street, door to door or any form of fundraising undertaken by Cancer Research UK, or would like to get involved, we'd love to hear from you. Please contact our Supporter Services Team on 020 7121 6699 or email supporter.services@cancer.org.uk

View our online book of messages

As part of our on street campaign we ask people to share their story as to why they want to help beat cancer and these are published in an online book - 'Tales of Inspiration, Stories of Hope and Kind words of comfort' - which is sent to all who have given us their email address.

I support Cancer Research UK for my mum and all our friends and family who have had cancer. Mum is now in remission and I treasure every day I spend with her. Please keep up the amazing work.' Jenny

My aunt died of cancer when I was very young and my grandma recently died from cancer too. I want to do something positive in their memory. Sarah

I support Cancer Research UK as I believe that cancer can be beaten. I want more people to survive this disease, to enjoy life and spend more time with the people they love. Mel