Can I donate it?

All charities

Cancer Research UK

~600 shops plus out-of-town superstores Website ↗ Their donation guidance ↗ verified 10 Jul 2026

States it cannot accept items it can't sell and would have to pay to dispose of; suggests local selling groups, food banks, removal services and recycling centres as alternatives for rejected items.

Baby & children

Furniture

  • Can't accept Corded blinds
    Their wording
    “Blinds without original packaging and safety instructions”
  • Can't accept Damaged, broken or incomplete furniture

    General rule: anything dirty, damaged, incomplete or with missing parts.

    Their wording
    “Furniture with missing parts”
  • Can't accept Mattresses

    New items can be sold; see also cots-and-mattresses for cot/crib/pram mattresses.

    Their wording
    “Used pillows, duvets, mattresses”
  • Can't accept Upholstered furniture without a fire label

    Also cushions/fillings without fire labels.

    Their wording
    “Upholstered furniture post 1950s without fire label”

Homeware & household

  • Can't accept Used, homemade or unlabelled candles
    Their wording
    “Unboxed, unsealed or partially burned candles — Unboxed/unsealed or partially burned candles”
  • Check first Coat hangers

    Coat hangers — accepted at Shop Manager's discretion to sell

    Their wording
    “Coat hangers — accepted at Shop Manager's discretion to sell”

Electrical

Safety equipment

  • Can't accept Climbing ropes, harnesses and hardware

    Also safety harnesses. New items can only be sold if sealed in the original box.

    Their wording
    “climbing equipment”
  • Can't accept Helmets and safety headgear

    New items can only be sold if sealed in the original box.

    Their wording
    “Used safety helmets, riding hats, crash helmets”
  • Can't accept Life jackets and buoyancy aids

    New items can only be sold if sealed in the original box.

    Their wording
    “Used buoyancy aids, life jackets, inflatable dinghies & toys”

Mobility & medical

Health & beauty

Sharps & weapons

Hazardous materials

Food & drink

  • Can't accept Food and drink
    Their wording
    “Perishable goods (incl. all food and drink)”

Media & books

Restricted materials

  • Can't accept Ivory, fur and taxidermy

    Also animal specimens and CITES-listed items such as tortoiseshell, ivory/bone, and taxidermy.

    Their wording
    “Animal furs (clothing & non-clothing)”
  • Can't accept Military uniforms and medals

    School uniforms can still be sold; refers to branded (e.g. workwear) uniforms.

    Their wording
    “Branded uniforms”
  • Can't accept Tobacco, lighters and smoking accessories
    Their wording
    “Cigarette and drug-related items — ashtrays, lighters, branded clothing/cards”

Bedding & textiles

  • Can't accept Duvets and pillows

    New items can be sold.

    Their wording
    “Used pillows, duvets, mattresses”
  • Can't accept Used underwear and swimwear

    New items can be sold.

    Their wording
    “Used swimwear or underwear”

Clothing & accessories

Sport & outdoor

  • Can't accept Bicycles
    Their wording
    “Bicycles”
  • Can't accept Used inflatable beds, boats and water toys

    New items can only be sold if sealed in the original box.

    Their wording
    “Used buoyancy aids, life jackets, inflatable dinghies & toys”

Additional source wording

Specific restrictions that have not yet been consolidated into their own item pages:

  • Cooling towers or fans — “Cooling tower or fans”
  • 2 pin plug adapters — “2 pin plug adapters”
  • Prosthesis, dentures — “Prosthesis, dentures”
  • Cigarette and drug-related items — “ashtrays, lighters, branded clothing/cards”
  • Plant seeds — “Plant seeds”
  • Pornographic/adult material, toys & accessories — “Pornographic/adult material, toys & accessories”
  • Manual shaving kits — “Manual shaving kits”
  • Culturally insensitive items — “ethnic caricature dolls, swastikas, racial wording, older books”
  • World War 2 gas masks — “World War 2 gas masks”
  • Used medical devices (e.g. blood pressure monitors) — “Used medical devices (e.g. blood pressure monitors)”
  • Used pierced, costume, branded or fine metal jewellery — “Used Pierced costume, branded, fine metal jewellery”
  • Small magnetic toys — “Small magnetic toys”
  • Self-feeding pillows — “Self-feeding pillows”
  • Used breast pumps, sterilisers — “Used breast pumps, sterilisers”
  • Used children's shoes — “Used children's shoes”