All items · Restricted materials
Ivory, fur and taxidermy
Also covers: ivory ornament, fur coat, stuffed animal, animal skin
Why shops refuse it
The Ivory Act bans most ivory sales, and many charities refuse fur and taxidermy on ethical grounds.
What to do instead
Genuine antique pieces may need specialist valuation and an exemption certificate — talk to an auctioneer.
Charity by charity
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Can't accept
Acorns Children's Hospice
Their wording
“Real fur”
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Can't accept
Age UK
Their wording
“real fur”
-
Can't accept
British Heart Foundation
Due to legal reasons.
Their wording
“Items made from ivory... Real fur or fur-trimmed items”
-
Can't accept
British Red Cross
Also bone, turtle/tortoiseshell and CITES-listed endangered-species products; pre-1900 ivory inlays exempt.
Their wording
“The trade in ivory is banned, except for pre-1900 furniture, wooden items or pianos with ivory inlays or keys”
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Can't accept
Cancer Research UK
Also animal specimens and CITES-listed items such as tortoiseshell, ivory/bone, and taxidermy.
Their wording
“Animal furs (clothing & non-clothing)”
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Can't accept
Claire House Children's Hospice
Their wording
“Furs”
-
Can't accept
Cornwall Hospice Care
Their wording
“Ivory”
-
Can't accept
DEBRA
Their wording
“Real fur”
-
Can't accept
Dogs Trust
Their wording
“items containing ivory, fur, or endangered species”
-
Can't accept
Dorothy House
Ivory goods dated after 1947 and clothing with real fur
Their wording
“Ivory goods after 1947”
-
Can't accept
Emmaus
Their wording
“Ivory and real fur items”
-
Can't accept
Overgate Hospice
Their wording
“Items made from ivory”
-
Can't accept
Princess Alice Hospice
Their wording
“Ivory”
-
Can't accept
Shaw Trust
Their wording
“Real fur or items with real fur trim”
-
Can't accept
St Barnabas Hospice (Lincolnshire)
Their wording
“Real fur or fur trimmed products”
-
Can't accept
St Christopher's Hospice
Real fur clothing
-
Can't accept
St Peter's Hospice
Their wording
“Ivory”
-
Can't accept
Sue Ryder
Also excludes crocodile, alligator and snakeskin products.
Their wording
“We do not sell or take donations of ivory or real fur.”
-
Can't accept
The Children's Trust
Real fur also excluded.
Their wording
“Ivory.”
-
Can't accept
Trinity Hospice (Blackpool)
Their wording
“Real fur / Ivory / bone / tortoise shell items”
-
Check first
Salvation Army (SATCoL)
Real fur not accepted at all; ivory and taxidermy only accepted if produced before June 1947.
Their wording
“ivory produced after June 1947, taxidermy produced after June 1947”
Not mentioned in 23 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 FARA Charity Shops
- Not mentioned Great Western Air Ambulance Charity
- Not mentioned Keech Hospice Care
- Not mentioned LOROS Hospice
- Not mentioned Marie Curie
- Not mentioned Octavia Foundation
- Not mentioned Oxfam
- Not mentioned PDSA
- Not mentioned Phyllis Tuckwell
- Not mentioned Samaritans
- Not mentioned Save the Children
- Not mentioned Scope
- Not mentioned Sense Scotland
- Not mentioned Shelter
- Not mentioned St Giles Hospice
- Not mentioned St Vincent de Paul Society (SVP)
- Not mentioned Traid
- Not mentioned Wales Air Ambulance
- Not mentioned Willen Hospice
- Not mentioned Woodgreen Pets Charity
- Not mentioned YMCA (England & Wales)