All items · Safety equipment
Helmets and safety headgear
Also covers: bike helmet, motorcycle helmet, riding hat, climbing helmet, ski helmet
Why shops refuse it
A helmet that's been dropped once can be invisibly compromised — no shop can guarantee a used one protects.
What to do instead
Some manufacturers run recycling schemes; otherwise remove straps and recycle the shell where facilities exist.
Charity by charity
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Can't accept
Acorns Children's Hospice
Their wording
“Safety equipment such as bike helmets or riding helmets”
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Can't accept
Age UK
broad category rule
Applies to all safety equipment items
Their wording
“safety equipment”
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Can't accept
British Heart Foundation
Their wording
“Safety helmets (riding hats, crash helmets, cycle helmets)”
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Can't accept
British Red Cross
Cycle helmets, motorbike helmets, riding hats, hard hats.
Their wording
“All types of protective headgear”
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Can't accept
Cancer Research UK
New items can only be sold if sealed in the original box.
Their wording
“Used safety helmets, riding hats, crash helmets”
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Can't accept
Claire House Children's Hospice
Their wording
“Sports safety equipment (helmets, etc.)”
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Can't accept
Cornwall Hospice Care
Their wording
“Safety helmets, riding hats, cycle helmets and crash helmets”
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Can't accept
DEBRA
Motorcycle and riding helmets specifically named.
Their wording
“Motorcycle helmets or riding helmets”
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Can't accept
Dorothy House
Covers cycling, motorcycle and riding helmets
Their wording
“Safety helmets – cycling, motorcycle and riding”
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Can't accept
Emmaus
Their wording
“Safety equipment i.e. car seats, bike helmets”
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Can't accept
FARA Charity Shops
Their wording
“any safety equipment (child car seats, cycling helmets, for example)”
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Can't accept
Great Western Air Ambulance Charity
Their wording
“Safety equipment (helmets, harnesses, life jackets)”
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Can't accept
LOROS Hospice
Includes bike and horse-riding helmets
Their wording
“Helmets bike/horse-riding”
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Can't accept
Overgate Hospice
Their wording
“Safety equipment (i.e life jackets, safety helmets, seats and harnesses)”
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Can't accept
Oxfam
Their wording
“Safety headgear (e.g. motorcycle crash helmets)”
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Can't accept
Princess Alice Hospice
Their wording
“Safety helmets, riding hats, crash helmets”
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Can't accept
Salvation Army (SATCoL)
Riding hats, crash helmets, cycle helmets and hard hats.
Their wording
“safety helmets - riding hats, crash helmets, cycle helmets and hard hats”
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Can't accept
Shaw Trust
Their wording
“safety helmets”
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Can't accept
St Barnabas Hospice (Lincolnshire)
Their wording
“Safety helmets – riding hats, crash helmets, cycle helmets”
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Can't accept
St Christopher's Hospice
Their wording
“Crash Helmets and Riding hats”
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Can't accept
St Giles Hospice
Their wording
“Safety helmets, riding hats, crash helmets, cycle helmets”
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Can't accept
St Peter's Hospice
Their wording
“Safety helmets, riding hats, crash helmets”
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Can't accept
St Vincent de Paul Society (SVP)
Their wording
“Safety helmets”
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Can't accept
Sue Ryder
Covers all types of helmets and visors.
Their wording
“Safety headgear e.g. all types of helmets and visors”
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Can't accept
The Children's Trust
Their wording
“Safety helmets, riding hats, crash helmets, cycle helmets.”
-
Can't accept
Trinity Hospice (Blackpool)
Bike/motorbike/riding helmets
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Can't accept
Wales Air Ambulance
Includes crash, cycle and riding helmets
Their wording
“Safety helmets: crash, cycle, riding hats”
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Can't accept
Willen Hospice
Listed under unaccepted safety equipment
Their wording
“Safety Equipment eg helmets, car seat”
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Check first
Samaritans
Unless new or sealed.
Their wording
“Helmets”
Not mentioned in 15 charities' guidance
Absence from a charity's list doesn't mean they accept it — it just isn't singled out. Ask your local shop.
- Not mentioned Barnardo's
- Not mentioned Crisis
- Not mentioned Dogs Trust
- Not mentioned Keech Hospice Care
- Not mentioned Marie Curie
- Not mentioned Octavia Foundation
- Not mentioned PDSA
- Not mentioned Phyllis Tuckwell
- Not mentioned Save the Children
- Not mentioned Scope
- Not mentioned Sense Scotland
- Not mentioned Shelter
- Not mentioned Traid
- Not mentioned Woodgreen Pets Charity
- Not mentioned YMCA (England & Wales)