Run a Christmas stall or fair for your charity

How to run a Christmas stall or fair in aid of your charity: pitch, raffle limits, collection permits, Gift Aid and a simple online page for everyone else.

In short A Christmas stall or fair can raise real money for your charity if you start six weeks ahead, agree your pitch with the organiser and check three rules early: raffle limits, collection permits and Gift Aid. Add a QR code that links to a donation page, so people who cannot visit can still give.

Is it a stall, a fair or a market?

In the UK, a "Christmas fair" usually means a school, church or community event, while a "Christmas market" is more often a commercial event run by a council or promoter. Either way, your charity takes a pitch and sells or collects in aid of its cause. The organiser sets the house rules, so ask them first.

What should your stall sell?

Pick two or three things that sell quickly, look good on a table and need little explaining.

  • Handmade gifts: knitted items, candles, wreaths and decorations made by supporters.
  • Charity Christmas cards: a pack of ten is easy to price.
  • Bakes and hot drinks: popular, but ask the organiser and your council about food rules first.
  • A Christmas raffle: the easiest way to start a conversation, with clear rules below.

For more formats beyond a stall, see our Christmas fundraising ideas for UK charities.

How do you plan the six weeks before the day?

Rushed preparation is the easiest way to spoil a stall. Work backwards from the date and give every task an owner. Our Christmas fundraiser planning guide covers the wider timeline; this is the stall version.

  • Six weeks out: book the pitch, confirm the fee and ask what you may collect or sell.
  • Four weeks out: sort any permit or raffle registration, and order cards and signs.
  • Two weeks out: set up your donation page, print the QR code and fix the rota.
  • Stall day: work in shifts of two hours, with 5 to 10 volunteers in total.
  • Next day: count the takings with two people, then thank everyone.

Do you need a permit to collect money?

It depends on where and how you collect, and a stall on an organised market is not the same as a bucket on the high street. Selling goods from a pitch you have booked follows the organiser's rules. Collecting money in a public place can need a council permit. We could not confirm one national rule for market stalls with donation buckets, so ask your local council and the organiser.

  • Street collections: in England and Wales a council permit is needed under the Police, Factories etc (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1916. Each council has its own rules and deadlines. Some, such as Tamworth and Leicester, ask for at least four weeks.
  • Carol singing at doors: this is a house to house collection and needs a council licence under the House to House Collections Act 1939. Collecting without one can mean up to six months in prison or a fine of up to £1,000.
  • Scotland: councils give consent for public charitable collections, with one month's notice. Northern Ireland has its own rules, so ask your council.

Whatever you do, follow the Fundraising Regulator's Code of Fundraising Practice, in force since 1 November 2025. Be polite, never pressure anyone and be honest about where the money goes.

Can you run a raffle at the stall?

Yes, and the simplest route is an incidental lottery. It is a raffle held at and during an event, such as a Christmas fair, with all the proceeds going to a good cause. Anything bigger needs a registered small society lottery.

  • Costs: you may deduct up to £100 for expenses and up to £500 for prizes you buy. Donated prizes are unlimited.
  • Tickets: sell them only at the event, during the event. The draw can happen during or after it.
  • No rollovers: an incidental lottery cannot carry a prize over to the next draw.
  • Bigger raffles: a small society lottery must be registered with your local authority and may sell up to £20,000 of tickets per draw and £250,000 per year. At least 20% of the proceeds must go to the cause, and tickets are sold to people aged 16 or over.

Where does Gift Aid fit in?

Gift Aid lets a charity claim an extra 25p for every £1 given by a UK taxpayer, so a £100 gift becomes £125. It only works on genuine gifts. Money paid for a cake, a card or a raffle ticket is a payment for goods or a chance to win, so it does not qualify.

A donation bucket is different. Under the Gift Aid Small Donations Scheme, a charity can claim on cash and contactless gifts of £30 or less without collecting donor details. It is capped at the lower of £8,000 or ten times your ordinary Gift Aid donations. Check your eligibility on the GOV.UK page first.

For larger gifts, you need a declaration with the donor's full name, home address with postcode and the date, plus a statement that they pay enough tax. Keep each declaration for six years after the last gift you claim on. Only recognised charities and registered CASCs can claim, so a group without UK charity status cannot.

How to do it with WeGlow.world

A stall reaches the people who walk past on one day. A WeGlow.world donation page reaches everyone else, before and after. Put the link and a QR code on your table.

  • Three simple steps: amount, personal details and summary. It works on a phone.
  • One off and monthly gifts: set separate amounts for each, and label every amount with what it does for your cause.
  • Personal details: donors give a first name and an email address, and may give gifts anonymously.
  • Your own thank you: if you write a thank you text, WeGlow.world sends it after each gift.
  • Helpers become fundraisers: your volunteers can start their own action page and ask friends and family to give.

For a digital layer, the Christmas experience Card Wall hangs envelopes on a string, and each card is a stamp, so each gift becomes a card on the wall. It could sit beside the stall on a tablet. Be aware that the four experiences are still a concept until the official launch, so do not build your plan on them yet. See the Card Wall page or the Christmas fundraising hub. Ready to start? Create your account, or contact us with questions.

Frequently asked questions

How much can a charity stall raise?

It depends on footfall, your pitch fee and what you sell, so we do not promise a figure. Set a modest target and track it after the day.

Do I need a permit for a stall at a Christmas fair?

A booked pitch follows the organiser's rules. A permit is a separate question and applies to collecting money in public places. We could not confirm one rule for donation buckets at markets, so ask your local council and the organiser.

Can I sell raffle tickets online?

Not for an incidental lottery, which must be sold at the event itself. A registered small society lottery can sell online or by phone, though not on the street.

Can I claim Gift Aid on stall takings?

Not on sales or raffle tickets. You may be able to claim on genuine gifts, including small cash and contactless donations of £30 or less under the Small Donations Scheme, if your charity is eligible. Larger gifts need a declaration.

How many volunteers do I need?

For one stall, plan 5 to 10 people in two hour shifts, with at least two on the table at any time.

Sources

Articles