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 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 get ruined by weather or animals, making them unusable. Also, this is regarded as fly-tipping and anyone caught doing so could incur a fine.
- If a shop is closed, take your items to another charity shop that is open and accepting donations, to a clothes bank or take them home (and donate them another day).
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.