Charity shops
Donate clothes, books, DVDs, CDs, furniture and even bubble wrap.
Items you can donate
The items a charity shop accepts will vary from store to store, but usually include:
- books
- bric-a-brac
- CDs and DVDs
- clothes and accessories
- furniture
- homeware.
Lots of charity shops also welcome newspapers and bubble wrap, which they can use for wrapping items they sell.
Before you donate
- Check your donations are both clean and functional.
- If donating large items or lots of items, it's best to speak with the charity shop first to check they have space; some charity shops also offer collections for large items.
- If donating electrical appliances, check with the shop that they have a qualified technician to test the goods (not all charity shops can accept/sell electrical items).
Important
- Do not leave your donations outside a charity shop, unless there is a dedicated collection bank. Items left outside may become soiled from weather or animals, making them unusable, but most importantly. this is regarded as fly-tipping and anyone caught doing so could incur a fine.
- If a shop ia closed, take your items to another charity shop that is open and accepting donations, to a clothes bank or home (and donate another day/time).
Gift aid
If you are a UK taxpayer, you may be asked if you want to Gift Aid your donation. This means that the charity can receive an extra 25p from the government for every £1 they raise from selling your goods.
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