Carol Singing and Public Entertainment Licensing
Do carol singers require a license?
Most carol singing is either spontaneous, incidental to other activities or part of a religious service and is usually not, therefore, licensable. However, some carol concerts may fall into the legal definition of ‘regulated entertainment’ - for example, a concert with an audience. If in doubt, organisers should contact their local licensing authority.
If a carol service is organised, advertised and provided for an audience there would seem to be little doubt that this would be licensable. However, a group of carol singers outside a shop could be construed as incidental to the activity of people going about their shopping and therefore exempt from the requirement for a licence. It would make no difference whether or not they were seeking voluntary contributions to charity from passers-by. This is different from a scenario where a shopping centre or individual business has organised a carol performance for an audience in a shopping mall which would require a licence or a temporary event notice.
Under the Licensing Act 2003 there is no distinction between the singing of religious or secular carols unless the carols are performed as part of a religious service or in a place of public religious worship, which would not then require a licence.
It should be remembered that it is for local licensing authorities to interpret the Act and to determine whether or not specific events need a licence and if churches are in any doubt they should approach their local environmental health department for advice.
More information about licensing can be found in the BUC guideline leaflet C10 Licensing for Entertainment and Copyright.
Charity Registration
Churches with an annual income over £100,000 need to register with the Charity Commission. The Commission will no longer accept postal applications and our C28 Registering as a Charity – Postal Applications has therefore been withdrawn. All applications must be completed online using C27 Registering as a Charity Online.
Churches with an annual income below £100,000 do not need to register and continue to be ‘excepted charities’. A government review of the Charities Act 2006 and the registration thresholds is currently taking place and is due to report to Parliament before the 2012 summer recess. The registration threshold for churches will not be reduced below £100,000 until sometime after this report has been considered in Parliament.
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