All items · Mobility & medical
Medicines and medicinal products
Also covers: tablets, prescription, medication, inhaler, vitamins
Almost all say no
20 refuse it outright — but 1 takes it under conditions. Evidence: 20 direct, 1 broad.
Why shops refuse it
Charity shops cannot verify, store and resupply medicines through the regulated route used by pharmacies, even when a pack appears unopened.
What to do instead
Any pharmacy will take unwanted medicines for safe disposal — never bin or flush them.
Charity by charity
-
Can't accept
British Heart Foundation
Their wording
“Medication including vitamins”
-
Can't accept
British Red Cross
Their wording
“Medication of any kind”
-
Can't accept
Cancer Research UK
Includes vitamins, drugs, poisons and supplements.
Their wording
“Prescription or general medications”
-
Can't accept
Cornwall Hospice Care
Includes vitamins
Their wording
“Medical equipment and medication including vitamins”
-
Can't accept
DEBRA
Their wording
“Drugs and poisons”
-
Can't accept
Dorothy House
Their wording
“Medication including vitamins”
-
Can't accept
Great Western Air Ambulance Charity
Includes medical equipment generally.
Their wording
“Medication or medical equipment (including prescription glasses)”
-
Can't accept
Overgate Hospice
Their wording
“Medication including vitamins”
-
Can't accept
Oxfam
broad category rule
Generic term used, not further specified by item.
Their wording
“Medical equipment”
-
Can't accept
Princess Alice Hospice
Their wording
“Medication including vitamins”
-
Can't accept
Salvation Army (SATCoL)
Their wording
“medication”
-
Can't accept
Shaw Trust
Their wording
“medicines”
-
Can't accept
St Barnabas Hospice (Lincolnshire)
Their wording
“Medication including vitamins”
- Can't accept St Christopher's Hospice
-
Can't accept
St Peter's Hospice
Includes vitamins
Their wording
“Medications including vitamins”
-
Can't accept
Sue Ryder
Their wording
“medicines or medications”
-
Can't accept
The Children's Trust
Their wording
“Medication including vitamins.”
-
Can't accept
Trinity Hospice (Blackpool)
Their wording
“Medication / medical supplies”
-
Can't accept
Wales Air Ambulance
Their wording
“Any medications”
-
Can't accept
Willen Hospice
Their wording
“Medicines”
-
Check first
Samaritans
Unless new or sealed.
Their wording
“Medication”
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 Acorns Children's Hospice
- Not mentioned Age UK
- Not mentioned Barnardo's
- Not mentioned Claire House Children's Hospice
- Not mentioned Crisis
- 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 PDSA
- Not mentioned Phyllis Tuckwell
- 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 Woodgreen Pets Charity
- Not mentioned YMCA (England & Wales)