All items · Baby & children
Soft toys without a CE or UKCA mark
Also covers: teddy, cuddly toy, plush toy
Why shops refuse it
Charities must be satisfied that second-hand toys meet product-safety requirements, and many use visible CE/UKCA marking as a practical check.
What to do instead
Check the toy, packaging and any accompanying leaflet for its marking and safety information; clean, compliant soft toys are widely accepted.
Charity by charity
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Can't accept
Acorns Children's Hospice
Their wording
“Toys without a CE mark”
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Can't accept
British Heart Foundation
Like other nursery items, may also only be resold at a selected number of stores.
Their wording
“soft toys without a CE or UKCA CE label”
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Can't accept
British Red Cross
Applies to toys generally.
Their wording
“Toys without the CE mark”
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Can't accept
Cancer Research UK
Their wording
“Soft toys (without CE/UKCA mark)”
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Can't accept
Claire House Children's Hospice
Also excludes broken toys.
Their wording
“Non-CE marked or broken toys”
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Can't accept
Cornwall Hospice Care
Their wording
“Soft toys without a CE or UKCA label attached”
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Can't accept
DEBRA
Page says 'toys' generally, not limited to soft toys.
Their wording
“Toys that do not display the CE label”
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Can't accept
Dogs Trust
Page says 'toys' generally, not limited to soft toys.
Their wording
“toys without a CE mark”
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Can't accept
Dorothy House
Applies to all toys without a CE/UKCE mark
Their wording
“Toys without a CE or UKCE label”
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Can't accept
Great Western Air Ambulance Charity
Soft toys must have their CE label intact to be accepted.
Their wording
“Soft toys must have CE label intact”
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Can't accept
Octavia Foundation
Toys generally (not just soft toys) without the CE mark are refused
Their wording
“Children's toys without the CE mark”
-
Can't accept
Phyllis Tuckwell
broad category rule
No baby-related equipment accepted
Their wording
“Highchairs, pushchairs or baby-related equipment”
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Can't accept
Princess Alice Hospice
Applies to all toys without a UKCA or CE mark
Their wording
“Toys without a UKCA or CE mark”
-
Can't accept
Shaw Trust
Their wording
“soft toys without CE/UKCA labels”
-
Can't accept
St Giles Hospice
Their wording
“Soft toys without CE label”
-
Can't accept
St Peter's Hospice
All toys without the CE mark
Their wording
“Toys without the CE mark”
-
Can't accept
St Vincent de Paul Society (SVP)
Their wording
“Soft toys without CE label”
-
Can't accept
Sue Ryder
Applies to toys generally.
Their wording
“toys without a CE mark”
-
Can't accept
The Children's Trust
General toy rule, not limited to soft toys.
Their wording
“Toys without a CE mark.”
-
Can't accept
Trinity Hospice (Blackpool)
Their wording
“Soft toys without CE label”
-
Can't accept
Wales Air Ambulance
Their wording
“Toys without a CE mark”
-
Can't accept
Willen Hospice
Unboxed toys or toys without CE markings not accepted
Their wording
“Unboxed Toys, games and puzzles or toys without CE markings”
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Check first
Samaritans
Unless new or sealed; applies to toys including soft toys generally.
Their wording
“Toys including soft toys”
Not mentioned in 21 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 Age UK
- Not mentioned Barnardo's
- Not mentioned Crisis
- Not mentioned Emmaus
- Not mentioned FARA Charity Shops
- Not mentioned Keech Hospice Care
- Not mentioned LOROS Hospice
- Not mentioned Marie Curie
- Not mentioned Overgate Hospice
- Not mentioned Oxfam
- Not mentioned PDSA
- Not mentioned Salvation Army (SATCoL)
- Not mentioned Save the Children
- Not mentioned Scope
- Not mentioned Sense Scotland
- Not mentioned Shelter
- Not mentioned St Barnabas Hospice (Lincolnshire)
- Not mentioned St Christopher's Hospice
- Not mentioned Traid
- Not mentioned Woodgreen Pets Charity
- Not mentioned YMCA (England & Wales)