Church Gate Collections

Volunteer Collectors
If you’d like to be a volunteer collector in your area, please register your details with us and we will contact you when a Church Gate Collection is being held in your area.

Volunteer Coordinator's
Your role as volunteer coordinator is to take overall responsibility for the Church-Gate Collection in your area (in liaison with the Fundraising Team). The main tasks are to:

1. Recruit as many local volunteer collectors as possible.
2. Identify churches and note number of entrances/exits to each one’
3. Draw up a rota of volunteers to cover every mass at each church.
4. Issue each collector with collectors permit, high-visibility bib, collection bucket
etc. (these will be sent to you by the Fundraising Team).
5. Be on hand on the day to ensure that collectors are relieved at the appointed time.
6. Ensure that all items and money are collected up at the end of the day.
7. Ensure money is bagged and lodged to Amnesty International’s account as soon as possible after the event.
8. Ensure all volunteers are thanked within a day or two at most and informed of the amount raised ( a text message is ideal for this).

The Fundraising Team will supply coordinators with all necessary resources for a successful collection including:

  • Garda Permit
  • Collectors Authorisation Permits
  • Flag-day stickers
  • High visibility vests with AI logo
  • Branded collection buckets
  • Coin bags
  • Bank Giro forms for easy lodgement
  • Tips for Volunteer Coordinators

Recruiting Volunteer Collectors

The key to success here is to start compiling a list of potential volunteers including:

  • Your family, friends & work colleagues
  • Local Secondary school students
  • Members of the public sympathetic to Amnesty International (AI).
  • Local AI members (Fundraising Team can organise a mailing to them on your behalf).
  • You may be able to recruit people by sending a Press Release about your Church Gate Collection
  • to the local media (again, the Fundraising Team can help you with this).
  • You may find it useful to get volunteers who will each take overall responsibility for one church.

During the collection:

  • Most churches have a table inside the main door for use during collections.
  • If possible, take some photographs of your volunteer collectors for our website.
  • Code of Conduct
  • Collectors are representing Amnesty International and should behave in a dignified
  • manner at all times.
  • Young collectors should always work in pairs for safety reasons (collectors must be
  • at least14 years of age).
  • Collectors should never be loud or aggressive or shake buckets in anyone’s face.
  • In the unlikely event that collectors are threatened in any way, they should immediately
  • move away and, if necessary, report the incident to the Gardai.

After the collection:

  • Each collection bucket should only be opened when there are two or more people present. Please be safety conscious in the handling of any money and do not put it, oryourself, at risk by having large amounts in your possession for longer than is necessary.
  • Let your volunteers know how much was raised (very important) and thank them.
  • Celebrate your success!

Bank Lodgements: Bank of Ireland a/c no. 81854111 Sort Code 90-00-17
Please be sure to let us know how much you raised so that we can acknowledge your efforts.

Fundraising Team contact: Tommy Roche (fundraising@amnesty.ie )Tel.1850 882400.

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