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British Red Cross

~300 shops Website ↗ Their donation guidance ↗ verified

As of , British Red Cross publishes donation guidance covering 45 of the 110 items in this directory: 34 they can't accept, 4 they may accept in some cases and 7 they accept.

Shops keep an age 'refusal register': knives, blades and age-rated films/games are sold with age checks. Each shop reserves the right to refuse items not on this list.

Baby & children

5
  • Can't accept
    Baby walkers and bouncers

    Also covers baby slings.

    Their wording
    “Baby walking frames, door bouncers, baby slings”
  • Can't accept
    Car seats and booster seats

    Second-hand seats often lack complete fitting instructions.

    Their wording
    “Children's car seats or booster seats”
  • Can't accept
    Stair gates and bed guards

    May not come with all necessary fittings.

    Their wording
    “Child safety gates”
  • Can't accept
    Used breast pumps, sterilisers and feeding equipment

    Only acceptable brand new and after passing portable appliance testing.

    Their wording
    “Used breast pumps, sterilisers or baby monitors”
  • Check first
    Cots, carrycots and cot mattresses

    Only cot, crib and Moses basket mattresses are refused (plus repainted cots); cots themselves are not otherwise addressed.

    Their wording
    “Cot, crib or Moses basket mattresses”

Toys & games

1

Furniture

2
  • Can't accept
    Post-1950 upholstered furniture without a fire label

    Applies to nursery furniture and all upholstered/foam-filled furniture; pre-1950 items exempt.

    Their wording
    “complies with The Furniture and Furnishings (Fire Safety) Regulations 1988 and has the relevant label attached, or predates 1950”
  • Check first
    Mattresses

    Only accepted in new, unused condition.

    Their wording
    “Mattresses, pillows and quilts that are not in new, unused, condition”

Electrical

6
  • Can't accept
    Computers and data-storage devices

    Copyright law forbids the resale of computers containing software.

    Their wording
    “Computer hard drives”
  • Can't accept
    Gas appliances

    Includes cookers, fires, lighters and hair-styling tools.

    Their wording
    “Mains or bottled gas appliances”
  • Can't accept
    Large appliances and white goods

    Microwaves are costly to test — standard appliance testers may not be qualified for the radiation tests.

    Their wording
    “Microwaves”
  • Can't accept
    Microwave ovens

    Microwaves are costly to test — standard appliance testers may not be qualified for the radiation tests.

    Their wording
    “Microwaves”
  • Can't accept
    Oil, paraffin and petrol heaters
    Their wording
    “Oil heaters”
  • Can't accept
    Vapes and e-cigarettes
    Their wording
    “Includes electronic cigarettes, vaporizers and their accessories.”

Safety equipment

1
  • Can't accept
    Helmets and safety headgear

    Cycle helmets, motorbike helmets, riding hats, hard hats.

    Their wording
    “All types of protective headgear”

Mobility & medical

2

Health & beauty

2
  • Can't accept
    Prescription glasses
    Their wording
    “Prescription glasses”
  • Can't accept
    Used or opened cosmetics and toiletries

    New, unused cosmetics, aftershaves and perfumes ARE accepted if sealed in original packaging.

    Their wording
    “We can accept new, unused cosmetics, aftershaves and perfumes if they remain sealed in their original packaging.”

Sharps & weapons

3

Hazardous materials

2

Food & drink

2
  • Can't accept
    Alcohol
    Their wording
    “Alcohol”
  • Can't accept
    Food

    A Food Standards Agency licence would be needed.

    Their wording
    “Foodstuffs”

Media & books

4

Restricted materials

6
  • Can't accept
    Counterfeit and pirated goods
    Their wording
    “Includes pirate DVDs and counterfeit CDs”
  • Can't accept
    Ivory and items that may contain ivory

    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”
  • Can't accept
    Military and identifiable uniforms

    Also police/emergency services/government ID, uniforms, decorations and vehicle licence plates.

    Their wording
    “Includes police, emergency services or government identification, uniforms and vehicle license plates.”
  • Can't accept
    Military medals and decorations

    Also police/emergency services/government ID, uniforms, decorations and vehicle licence plates.

    Their wording
    “Includes police, emergency services or government identification, uniforms and vehicle license plates.”
  • Can't accept
    Sexual-wellbeing products and adult material

    The same policy also refuses pornographic publications, DVDs and videos.

    Their wording
    “Sex aids or sex toys, in any condition”
  • Can't accept
    Tobacco, lighters and smoking accessories
    Their wording
    “Cigarettes, tobacco and related products”

Bedding & textiles

2
  • Check first
    Duvets and pillows

    Pillows and quilts only accepted new and unused.

    Their wording
    “Mattresses, pillows and quilts that are not in new, unused, condition”
  • Accepted
    Curtains and small soft furnishings source ↗
    Their wording
    “good quality curtains, tablecloths, cushions, duvet covers and other soft furnishings”

Clothing & accessories

5
  • Can't accept
    Nightwear that lacks required fire-safety information
    Their wording
    “Nightwear without flammable warning labels”
  • Check first
    Children's clothing with hood drawstrings

    Accepted if the drawstring is removed.

    Their wording
    “Children's garments with drawstring hoods (unless drawstring removed)”
  • Accepted
    Clothing in good condition source ↗
    Their wording
    “preloved clothes, including women's clothes, men's clothes, coats, shirts, trousers and jeans”
  • Accepted
    Jewellery and clothing accessories source ↗

    Earrings and jewellery for pierced ears or other pierced body parts are separately refused for hygiene reasons.

    Their wording
    “Have an old ring, watch or necklace you don’t wear anymore? Donate it to us and make someone’s day with a ‘new to you’ piece of jewellery that will be just right for them.”
  • Accepted
    Shoes and boots in good condition source ↗

    Second-hand children's shoes are refused (except unworn wellies, jellies and flip-flops); adult shoes are welcome.

    Their wording
    “Boots, shoes and trainers are always popular”

Sport & outdoor

1
  • Can't accept
    Bicycles

    Selling an unsafe bicycle is against the law and can result in a large fine.

    Their wording
    “Bicycles”

Other

1
  • Can't accept
    Religious ornaments and devotional objects

    Includes crucifixes, menorahs, Buddha statues, rosaries and nativity sets. The source explicitly excludes religious books and texts from the refusal.

    Their wording
    “Religious items (undesirability)”

Other things they mention

More rules from their donation guidance, in their own words — these don't have their own page on this site yet:

  • Can't accept Electric fires
  • Can't accept Dentures and prosthetics
  • Can't accept Earrings/jewellery for pierced body parts — “Earrings and jewellery for pierced ears or any other pierced body parts (hygiene and safety reasons).”
  • Can't accept Second-hand children's shoes (except unworn wellies, jellies, flip flops) — “Second-hand children's shoes except Wellington boots, jellies and flip flops (wellbeing reasons).”
  • Can't accept Golliwog-related items (dolls, toys, badges, books) — “Golliwog-related items (undesirability). Includes dolls, toys, badges and books.”