Glasgow has become the first Scottish city or town to enter a full voluntary site agreement with the PFRA restricting face-to-face fundraising in the city centre.

On 30 April 2012 the agreement will come into force limiting street fundraisers to six city centre areas which can be visited only twice a week by a maximum of five fundraisers. It will also open up seven designated fundraising districts outside of the city centre which can be visited three times a week by a maximum of five fundraisers. 

The agreement is equivalent to 60 fundraiser-days capacity within the five city centre sites and 105 fundraiser-days capacity in the seven sites outside of the city centre. Toby Ganley, head of policy at PFRA said the new sites, which include Govan, Partick and Dennistoun were necessary because, "It was fairly clear that there was a bit too much fundraising in central Glasgow.

"The new sites will take pressure off the centre, while maintaining the balance between charities' duty to fundraise and the rights of the public not to be put under pressure to give."

Under the new agreement rules including the need to carry photo identity cards and wear distinctive official clothing or tabards will be imposed. Street fundraisers will also have to ensure they do not "impede or egress members of the public", block shop entrances or come within 3 metres of al fresco dining areas. 

The agreement follows high level discussion on the matter of face-to-face fundraising in Scotland. In February 2012 a motion was lodged in Scottish Parliament by George Foulkes, member of Scottish Parliament for the Lothians, to protect the public against face-to-face fundraisers, or 'chuggers'. A minority, he said, put "undue pressure" on passers-by to donate to charity. The motion was supported by Hugh Henry, MP for Paisley South, on the outskirts of Glasgow.

Councillor Gordon Matheson, head of Glasgow City Council said: "The issue of street fundraisers is a source of annoyance to many shoppers and visitors to Glasgow. However we recognise that charities have the legal right to fundraise on our streets, but we must ensure that people working, living and visiting Glasgow are not inconvenienced by this practice."

Street fundraisers in Scotland must abide by the Institute of Fundraising's established code of practice, but there are no legal limitations in place.

Glasgow's new PFRA agreement means that street fundraisers could face sanctions by the organisation, leading to future fundraising visits being suspended or penalties awarded through its new financial penalty system, introduced last year. Under the system points are given to charities when a complaint is received. Once the charity has received more than 1,000 points in any year, it will receive a £1 per point penalty, so a charity raising 1,001 points would receive a £1,001 fine.