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Planning your event

Top tips for organising your carol singing collection:

• Who with? Get in touch with friends, family, colleagues, members of your choir or church and persuade them to get involved - the more the merrier.

• When and where? Decide on a date and time for your event. Think about how you'd like to collect and where. Contact the relevant people if you need permission (see the carol singing 'how to' guide for guidelines). You may need to contact the local Council for a licence if you are caroling in a public space.

• Order your free fundraising materials - The materials include books of carols, stickers, authority badges, collection boxes and seals, collection envelopes, gift aid records, giros, wax candles and cardboard drip shields. Click here to download materials or to place an order.

• Advertise your event - Spread the word using posters or flyers. Contact your local press, parish magazine and club/group nespapers to gain publicity for the event. Invite them to take pictures of the group in advance or on the day and send them a press release detailing the date, what, when, where, who and why.

A few days before your event

• If relevant, double check that you have the necessary permission from your local authority or confirm the final details with the manager of any private property or venue, including when you will be arriving and who the contact is at the venue.
• Ensure everyone knows where and when to arrive and that you have the necessary collection materials. Check individuals know their tasks and responsibilities, particularly with regards to collecting funds raised.
• Final call for photographs: Contact the local press to see if they are sending a photographer. If not, why not take your own photographs, which you could send to them and us to report your success!

On the day

Double check all your arrangements and sing, sing, sing!

After the event

• Open the collection boxes and count the money. Use the official carol singing giro slip to pay the funds directly into any bank or post office or send a cheque made payable to The Children's Society to this address:

The Children's Society, Edward Rudolf House, London WC1X 0JL

• Thank all those who helped particularly groups and the venue manager (if appropriate).
• Spread the news about how much was raised for the children who need help the most.
• If you received a licence from the council for your collection, let the council know how much you raised and any other necessary information.