All items · Sport & outdoor
Used inflatable beds, boats and water toys
Also covers: inflatable bed, air bed, dinghy, inflatable boat, inflatable pool, armbands, rubber ring
Why shops refuse it
Punctures and weakened seams can be hard to detect, and failure is especially serious for equipment intended to keep someone afloat.
What to do instead
Do not pass on damaged flotation equipment. Ask your council whether it accepts PVC inflatables or separate reusable pumps and accessories.
Charity by charity
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Can't accept
British Heart Foundation
Their wording
“Inflatable beds, dinghies or toys for water — Inflatable beds, dinghies or toys for water”
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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 buoyancy aids, life jackets, inflatable dinghies & toys”
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Can't accept
Cornwall Hospice Care
Their wording
“Inflatable swimming pools, toys and pumps”
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Can't accept
Dorothy House
Also excludes inflatable dinghies
Their wording
“Buoyancy aids, lifejackets and inflatable dinghies”
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Can't accept
Great Western Air Ambulance Charity
Their wording
“Inflatables — Disability aids or inflatables”
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Can't accept
Princess Alice Hospice
Their wording
“Buoyancy aids, lifejackets, inflatable dinghies”
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Can't accept
Salvation Army (SATCoL)
Also inflatable dinghies and water toys.
Their wording
“Buoyancy aids, life jackets”
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Can't accept
Samaritans
Their wording
“Inflatable water toys (unless new/sealed)”
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Can't accept
Shaw Trust
Their wording
“Inflatable beds and boats”
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Can't accept
St Barnabas Hospice (Lincolnshire)
Their wording
“Inflatable dinghies and inflatable water toys”
-
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”
-
Can't accept
Willen Hospice
broad category rule
Sports equipment generally not accepted, no specific items listed
Their wording
“Sports equipment”
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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 28 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 British Red Cross
- Not mentioned Claire House Children's Hospice
- 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 Overgate Hospice
- 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 Woodgreen Pets Charity
- Not mentioned YMCA (England & Wales)