All items · Safety equipment
Life jackets and buoyancy aids
Also covers: lifejacket, buoyancy vest, swim vest
Why shops refuse it
Life-critical equipment can't be verified second-hand.
What to do instead
Some sailing clubs and the RNLI occasionally take serviceable kit for training — ask locally before recycling.
Charity by charity
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Can't accept
Acorns Children's Hospice
broad category rule
General safety equipment not accepted, bike/riding helmets given as examples.
Their wording
“Safety equipment such as bike helmets or riding helmets”
-
Can't accept
Age UK
broad category rule
Applies to all safety equipment items
Their wording
“safety equipment”
-
Can't accept
British Heart Foundation
Their wording
“Buoyancy aids, life jackets, inflatable boats”
-
Can't accept
Cancer Research UK
New items can only be sold if sealed in the original box.
Their wording
“Used buoyancy aids, life jackets, inflatable dinghies & toys”
-
Can't accept
Claire House Children's Hospice
broad category rule
General sports safety equipment not accepted.
Their wording
“Sports safety equipment (helmets, etc.)”
-
Can't accept
Cornwall Hospice Care
Their wording
“Buoyancy aids, life jackets, inflatable dinghies”
-
Can't accept
Dorothy House
Also excludes inflatable dinghies
Their wording
“Buoyancy aids, lifejackets and inflatable dinghies”
-
Can't accept
Great Western Air Ambulance Charity
Their wording
“Safety equipment (helmets, harnesses, life jackets)”
-
Can't accept
Overgate Hospice
Their wording
“Safety equipment (i.e life jackets, safety helmets, seats and harnesses)”
-
Can't accept
Princess Alice Hospice
Their wording
“Buoyancy aids, lifejackets, inflatable dinghies”
-
Can't accept
Salvation Army (SATCoL)
Also inflatable dinghies and water toys.
Their wording
“Buoyancy aids, life jackets”
-
Can't accept
Shaw Trust
Their wording
“Buoyancy aids, life jackets”
-
Can't accept
St Barnabas Hospice (Lincolnshire)
Their wording
“Buoyancy aids, lifejackets”
-
Can't accept
St Giles Hospice
Also excludes inflatable dinghies and inflatable water toys
Their wording
“Buoyancy aids, life jackets, inflatable dinghies, inflatable toys for water”
-
Can't accept
St Peter's Hospice
Their wording
“Buoyancy aids, lifejackets, inflatable dinghies”
-
Can't accept
Sue Ryder
Also excludes inflatable dinghies and armbands/rings worn as flotation aids.
Their wording
“buoyancy aids, life jackets and inflatable dinghies”
-
Can't accept
Wales Air Ambulance
Also includes inflatable dinghies and inflatable armbands/rings worn as flotation aids
Their wording
“Buoyancy aids, life jackets and inflatable dinghies”
-
Check first
Samaritans
broad category rule
Unless new or sealed.
Their wording
“Safety equipment”
-
Check first
The Children's Trust
Buoyancy aids, lifejackets and inflatable dinghies accepted only if new and boxed.
Their wording
“Buoyancy aids, lifejackets, inflatable dinghies unless new and boxed.”
Not mentioned in 25 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 British Red Cross
- Not mentioned Crisis
- Not mentioned DEBRA
- Not mentioned Dogs Trust
- Not mentioned Emmaus
- Not mentioned FARA Charity Shops
- 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 Save the Children
- Not mentioned Scope
- Not mentioned Sense Scotland
- Not mentioned Shelter
- Not mentioned St Christopher's Hospice
- Not mentioned St Vincent de Paul Society (SVP)
- Not mentioned Traid
- Not mentioned Trinity Hospice (Blackpool)
- Not mentioned Willen Hospice
- Not mentioned Woodgreen Pets Charity
- Not mentioned YMCA (England & Wales)