All you need to know about donations

Yes please to:

• Clothes
• Books
• DVD’s
• CD’s
• Bric-a-Brac
• Children’s toys
• Sofas, armchairs and conservatory furniture – with fire labels (see example below)
• Solid wood furniture
• Wardrobes
• Garden furniture
• Solid wood/metal framed beds – with all fixtures and fittings
• Divan bed bases – with fire labels (see example below)
• Mattresses – clean, no marks with fire labels (see example below)
• Rugs
• Valuable or specialist items
• Kitchenware
• Curtains and bedding – clean with no marks
• Small musical instruments – we’re sorry, but we can’t take pianos, electric organs or drum kits
• Office furniture, tables, chairs and desks
• Electrical equipment (e.g. TVs, stereos, kitchen electricals – with CE mark (see example below)
• Gym Equipment – good condition, complete, working and less than 3 years old (with CE mark if electrical)
• Mobility equipment – wheelchairs, walking frames, mobility scooters (with CE mark)
• White goods – fridge/freezers, washing machines (with CE Mark)
• Electric cookers – fully working (with CE mark)

Labels to look out for:

CE Label

Fire Safety Label

We would love to be able to take all donations but there are some items we are unable to accept due to size, quality, health & safety or hygiene reasons.

Furniture and Housewares

• Duvets and pillows that have been used
• Upholstered furniture without a fire label including items without labels that are part of donated sets
• Upholstered furniture with large tears or damage of any kind
• Furniture with missing parts or damage that may make the item unsafe
• Veneered wood furniture with damage to the veneer exposing the inner wood
• Flat-packed furniture without instructions
• Soft furnishings (prior to 1988)
• Items that have been recalled by the supplier
• Candles without warning labels

Heating and Cooking

• Gas appliances (mains or bottled)
• Gas cookers or patio heaters
• Oil filled radiators (not supplied with a thermostat)
• Oil heaters (mobile)
• Oil and gas Agas

Electrical Items

• Personal appliances such as shavers, foot spas, etc. (unless unused and in the original sealed box)
• Chainsaws
• Items without a CE Mark
• Electric blankets
• Electric showers
• Sunbeds and tanning equipment
• Waste disposal units
• Power tools without instructions
• Older style CRT TV’s (deep back)

Weapons

• Firearms or imitation
• Knives – except household cutlery
• Flick knives or scissors
• Swords, sword stocks, crossbows
• Guns, air rifles and ammunition (including replica guns)

Sports and Safety Equipment

• Children’s bicycles
• Buoyancy aids, lifejackets, inflatable dinghies
• Safety helmets, riding hats, crash helmets
• Cycle helmets
• Safety harnesses of any sort

Children’s Equipment

• Cots – speak to local shop for requirements
• Prams and pushchairs
• Hooded children’s clothes with string or cord through hood.
• Children’s car seats, booster seats
• Highchairs
• Toys without a CE mark
• Soft Toys (on a temporary basis)

Software and Hardware

• Computers or laptops unless the hard drive has been professionally cleaned or removed
• CD given away free with publications
• Used computer software
• Computer games without original packaging / Age warning labels
• CD’s (on a temporary basis)

Miscellaneous

• Fireworks
• Lighters, novelty and non-child proof.
• Counterfeits or fakes of any type
• Medication including vitamins
• Perishable goods, food and drink
• Prescription spectacles
• Cleaning agents, solvents and adhesives
• Nightwear without fire warning
• Ivory goods after 1947
• Petrol or diesel fuelled garden tools such as lawn mowers

If you have any further questions, please contact your local shop for more information.