BHF shops
Top tips on donating to charity shops after a declutter
This autumn, we are urging the public to continue donating their unwanted items to our charity shops, despite a surge in donations at the end of lockdown.
We have been humbled by the public’s generosity since reopening our doors in July. Charity shops have provided the perfect solution for the UK’s households looking to give their decluttered items a new home after their lockdown clear outs, while raising vital funds for research into heart and circulatory diseases.
We’re now encouraging the nation to continue donating to our 740 shops across the UK - from designer clothing, jewellery, vintage toys, books and vinyl records to sofas, sideboards, beds and TVs - to help provide much needed stock that will help us recover from the coronavirus crisis.
Here, our retail experts provide their top tips and guidance on how to safely donate.
Why not post your donations for free?
If you’ve got a selection of smaller items that you’d like to donate to us and don’t have time to pop to your local shop or you’re not quite ready to hit the high street, then why not post your goods using our new freepost service? Simply request a freepost label and then choose to either print the label off or take it to one of 7,500 nationwide Collect+ drop off points to be printed there. Packages can be up to 10kg.These items will then be sold in our shops or via our BHF eBay store, where experts ensure we get the best price for high value items.
The huge range of items you can donate
Is the item you want to donate in good condition? Is it a quality item that you think someone would want to buy? If the answer is yes to both these questions, then we would love to receive it. If you are currently clearing out your wardrobe, remember clothing donations don’t have to be seasonal. Right now, we’re in need of winter clothing as the colder seasons approach and our shop staff can hold onto items until the temperature changes and it’s suitable for them to hit the shop floor.As well as clothes and books and items such as furniture, TVs and household items we can also sell goods such as musical instruments, mobility scooters, cameras, exercise equipment and even cars!
Donate easily and safely to our shops
If you’re able to drop off donations at your local shop, then rest assured that our shops teams have put several new measures in place so donations can be made as safely as possible. This includes placing new contact-free donations points at the entrance of our stores. Don’t forget to ask staff about Gift Aiding your items too, to add an extra 25 per cent to the amount we can raise from them.Our shops are also operating social distancing measures, providing hand sanitiser stations and using Perspex screens at till points, should you wish to browse. Following Government guidelines, any donations will be left to rest for 48 hours before being placed on the shop floor.
Book a free furniture collection
Decided to give your home a restyle during lockdown? If you need to make room for any new purchases or simply want to make more space in your home, then our free collection service is now up and running for any larger furniture items and homewares.Donors can simply book a free and Covid-secure collection or by calling their local Home store, who will arrange for a van and crew to collect the items at a convenient time.
Our Home stores love to receive quality furniture items, such as sofas, sideboards, wardrobes, beds, small electricals and TVs. By donating items such as these, you can help us reuse millions of donated items and in turn help the environment. Last year alone, we saved an incredible 71,000 tonnes of items from going to waste and 135,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions from being released into the atmosphere. This year, our shops will resell 250,000 sofas thanks to the generosity of the public.
Stagger your donations
Since our shops have reopened, we have been thrilled by the generosity of the public. In some areas, donations have been far higher than usual, and we are still happy to receive any donations you may have - big or small.
If you’re planning to give a large amount of items to us, consider spreading donations over a few days or ring ahead to check when might be best to pop by. Shop teams and volunteers will be happy to advise. It may also be worth exploring the different avenues you can use to donate items and choose the most convenient for you.
The coronavirus crisis has had a devastating impact on our income, leading to a potential £50 million cut in research funding and delaying important scientific breakthroughs. Every pound raised in our shops and eBay store will help us to raise vital funds for life saving research.