Donating to our shops: Tips for making every donation go further

At Hospice in the Weald, we are incredibly grateful for every person who donates to and shops in our charity shops. Your support helps us provide compassionate care for people facing terminal illness, and their loved ones, whether it be out in the community or at the Hospices in Pembury and Five Ashes.

Each year, our shops contribute more than £2 million towards hospice care – funding the care of nearly one in four of our patients. Over the next five years, we hope to grow that contribution to more than £3 million so we can be there for even more families who need us. With your help, we can make that happen.

Whilst we appreciate all donations, donating good quality items gives them a better chance of being resold, raising more vital funds. Read on to discover our top donating tips, and the impact of good quality donations…

Why quality donations matter

Our customers love our charity shops because they are affordable, welcoming and always full of new treasures to discover. We are also proud to be one of the few charity retailers that accepts all donations. However, around 30% of the items donated to us cannot be sold in our shops. By donating thoughtfully, you can help us:

Raise more money for patients and their loved ones
Reduce waste
Save valuable volunteer and staff time
Keep our shops full of quality, affordable items people love to buy

There are other ways to make your donation go even further, too. Registering for Gift Aid allows us to claim an extra 25% at no cost to you, helping raise even more funds. And if you have a little spare time, volunteering in one of our shops, even for just a couple of hours a week, can make a huge difference.

What we love to receive

We welcome donations that are clean, good quality and ready for a new home – the kinds of items that someone else will be genuinely delighted to discover in our shops. Thoughtful donations help us raise more funds, reduce waste and keep our shelves full of affordable treasures for our wonderful shoppers.

Clothing is always appreciated when it is clean and in good condition, and complete toys, games and puzzles are especially popular with families. For safety reasons, we can only sell toys with CE labels and furniture with the correct fire safety labels, so checking these before donating really helps our teams.

If you are ever unsure whether we can accept an item, please contact your local shop. Our staff and volunteers are always happy to advise and help make donating as easy as possible. After all, our shops rely on your kindness and donations.

Helping our teams make the biggest difference

Every donation we receive must be sorted, checked and prepared for sale by our dedicated staff and volunteers. Small actions from supporters can make a big difference in helping our teams work safely and efficiently. One of the biggest challenges our shops face is donations being left outside when shops are closed. Unfortunately, items left overnight are often damaged by rain or damp and can no longer be sold.

Whilst we are grateful for every donation, there are some items we simply cannot sell for hygiene, quality or safety reasons. This includes heavily worn or damaged clothing, items with stains or holes, used underwear or swimwear, and broken or incomplete goods.

In some cases, there may be better alternatives for unwanted items. Textile recycling banks can often take worn fabrics and clothing, whilst animal shelters may welcome towels or bedding that are no longer suitable for resale. By thinking carefully about what you donate, you help us spend less on waste disposal and more on providing holistic and compassionate hospice care for local families.

Thank you

However you choose to support us, we want to say thank you. Every thoughtful donation, every purchase, and every hour volunteered helps Hospice in the Weald continue providing vital care and support for people in our community.

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