Queenscourt Hospice
As of , Queenscourt Hospice publishes donation guidance covering 48 of the 110 items in this directory: 40 they can't accept and 8 they may accept in some cases, plus 1 category-wide rule.
Southport-based hospice with shops at Ainsdale, Bispham Road (Southport), Burscough, Churchtown, Cambridge Road (Southport), Formby, Hesketh Bank and Chapel Street (Southport).
Baby & children
6-
Can't accept
Their wording
“Baby walking frames, door bouncers, baby slings (safety reasons).”
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Can't accept
Their wording
“Children’s car seats or booster seats (safety reasons). Second-hand seats often have no or incomplete fitting instructions. Seats that are not installed correctly or are damaged may not be able to protect a child in an accident.”
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Can't accept
Repainted cots are also refused separately: "Repainted cots (safety reasons). Cots that have been repainted may contain lead or other substances that may be harmful if chewed."
Their wording
“Cot, crib or Moses basket mattresses (wellbeing reasons). There is research that showed an increased risk of sudden infant death syndrome when using another family’s second-hand baby mattress, but no proven link yet.”
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Can't accept
Their wording
“Child safety gates (safety reasons). Second-hand stair gates may not come equipped with all the necessary fittings and fixtures. These are essential for ensuring safety.”
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Can't accept
Accepted only if brand new and they pass a portable appliance (PAT) test.
Their wording
“Used breast pumps, sterilisers or baby monitors (safety and hygiene reasons). Only acceptable if brand new and they pass portable appliance tests.”
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Check first
Must display the appropriate warning labels.
Their wording
“Please note, All prams and push chairs must display the appropriate warning labels.”
Toys & games
1-
Can't accept
Their wording
“Toys without the CE mark (safety and legal reasons).”
Furniture
3-
Can't accept
Also stated specifically for nursery furniture: "Nursery furniture that contains upholstery (legal reasons). We can accept these if the item complies with The Furniture and Furnishings (Fire Safety) Regulations 1988 and has the relevant label attached, or predates 1950."
Their wording
“Upholstered foam-filled furniture (legal reasons). We can accept these if the article predates 1950 or complies with The Furniture and Furnishings (Fire Safety) Regulations 1988 and has the relevant label attached.”
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Check first
Accepted only if blinds have warning labels and safety instructions.
Their wording
“Blinds without warning labels & safety instructions”
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Check first
Accepted only if new and unused.
Their wording
“Mattresses, pillows and quilts that are not in new, unused, condition (hygiene reasons).”
Homeware & household
1-
Can't accept
Used candles refused; new, sealed, originally-packaged candles accepted.
Their wording
“Used Candles (We can accept new if they remain sealed in their original packaging.)”
Electrical
7-
Can't accept
Their wording
“Computer hard drives (legal reasons). Copyright law forbids the resale of computers containing software.”
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Can't accept
Same rule as bicycles explicitly extends to E-bikes and Scooters.
Their wording
“Bicycles (safety reasons). Selling an unsafe bicycle is against the law and can result in a large fine. Including E-bikes or Scooters.”
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Can't accept
Their wording
“Mains or bottled gas appliances (safety reasons). Includes cookers, fires, lighters and hair-styling tools.”
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Can't accept
Listed among refused appliances; covers electric-powered fires and cookers (gas versions are refused under a separate rule).
Their wording
“Electric fires or cookers (safety reasons).”
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Can't accept
Their wording
“Microwaves (safety reasons). Costly to test: standard appliance testers may not be qualified to conduct the necessary radiation tests.”
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Can't accept
Their wording
“Oil heaters, petrol or diesel fuelled items (safety reasons).”
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Can't accept
Same rule as tobacco/cigarettes explicitly extends to electronic cigarettes and vaporizers.
Their wording
“Cigarettes, tobacco and related products (legal reasons and undesirability). Includes electronic cigarettes, vaporizers and their accessories.”
Safety equipment
2✕ Can't accept All safety equipment items — “Any form of Safety Equipment.”
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Can't accept
Their wording
“Climbing Equipment (Safety reasons.)”
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Can't accept
Their wording
“All types of protective headgear (safety reasons). Includes cycle helmets, motorbike helmets, riding hats, hard hats.”
Mobility & medical
2-
Can't accept
Their wording
“Medication of any kind (safety and legal reasons).”
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Can't accept
Four-wheeled mobility scooters are also refused separately: "Four-wheeled mobility scooters (safety reasons). Mobility scooters need road worthiness testing."
Their wording
“Medical Aids including Wheelchairs, wheeled walkers (safety and hygiene reasons). We cannot guarantee infection control. Wheelchairs should only be bought with professional advice to ensure the item is appropriate for the user.”
Health & beauty
3-
Can't accept
Their wording
“Reading/Prescription glasses (wellbeing reasons).”
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Can't accept
Accepted only if new, unused, and sealed in original packaging.
Their wording
“Cosmetics and scents (hygiene reasons and undesirability). We can accept new, unused cosmetics, aftershaves and perfumes if they remain sealed in their original packaging.”
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Check first
Only used hot water bottles are refused (safety reasons); new ones are not addressed.
Their wording
“Used hot water bottles (safety reasons).”
Sharps & weapons
3-
Can't accept
Their wording
“Firearms and ammunition (legal reasons and undesirability). Includes starting pistols and other blank-firing weapons and ammunition.”
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Can't accept
Their wording
“General Weapons and realistic toy weapons (legal reasons and undesirability).”
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Can't accept
Their wording
“Pointed objects that can be used as weapons (safety and legal reasons). Includes butcher’s knives, flick knives, sports knives, swords, darts, daggers and axes.”
Hazardous materials
2-
Can't accept
Their wording
“Solvents and solvent-based products (legal reasons and undesirability).”
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Can't accept
Same rule as oil heaters, also covers petrol/diesel-fuelled items generally.
Their wording
“Oil heaters, petrol or diesel fuelled items (safety reasons).”
Food & drink
2-
Can't accept
Their wording
“Alcohol (legal reasons and undesirability).”
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Can't accept
Their wording
“Foodstuffs (legal reasons). A Foods Standards Agency licence is needed.”
Media & books
1-
Can't accept
Their wording
“Any DVDs and videos not legally classified by the British Board of Film Classification (legal reasons and undesirability). Includes DVDs missing classification labels.”
Restricted materials
7-
Can't accept
Counterfeit/fake clothing is refused under a separate rule too: "Clothing which are deemed as copies, fakes or dupes."
Their wording
“Any goods that infringe the copyright law (legal reasons). Includes pirate DVDs and counterfeit CDs. These can be recognised by the colour of the disc, hologram labelling or poor packaging.”
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Can't accept
Scope is broader than military — also covers police, emergency services and government identification/uniforms and vehicle licence plates.
Their wording
“Official items (undesirability). Includes police, emergency services or government identification, uniforms and vehicle license plates.”
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Can't accept
Their wording
“Items made of fur (undesirability). Includes new and second-hand items.”
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Can't accept
Pornographic publications, DVDs and videos (including R18-classified) are refused under a separate rule too.
Their wording
“Sex aids or sex toys, in any condition (undesirability, hygiene reasons).”
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Can't accept
Their wording
“Taxidermy (undesirability). Includes new and second-hand items.”
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Can't accept
Their wording
“Cigarettes, tobacco and related products (legal reasons and undesirability). Includes electronic cigarettes, vaporizers and their accessories.”
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Check first
Pre-1900 antique items with ivory may be accepted with an affidavit from an antiques dealer confirming legality.
Their wording
“Items made of ivory (legal reasons). The trade in ivory is banned, except for pre-1900 furniture, wooden items or pianos with ivory inlays or keys and items believed to be ‘antique’. An affidavit from an antiques dealer is required to ensure items are sold legally.”
Bedding & textiles
1-
Check first
Pillows and quilts (duvets) accepted only if new and unused.
Their wording
“Mattresses, pillows and quilts that are not in new, unused, condition (hygiene reasons).”
Clothing & accessories
4-
Can't accept
Their wording
“Nightwear without flammable warning labels (safety reasons). Includes children’s and adults’ nightdresses, pyjamas, dressing gowns and bathrobes.”
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Can't accept
Their wording
“Used/Worn underwear or socks”
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Check first
Accepted if the drawstring is removed.
Their wording
“Children’s garments with drawstring hoods (safety reasons). We can accept this clothing if the drawstring is removed.”
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Check first
General clothing is only accepted if it has its safety label displayed inside the garment.
Their wording
“Clothing without their safety label displayed inside the garment”
Sport & outdoor
2-
Can't accept
Their wording
“Bicycles (safety reasons). Selling an unsafe bicycle is against the law and can result in a large fine. Including E-bikes or Scooters.”
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Can't accept
Their wording
“Roller Skates & Skate boards (safety reasons).”
Other
1-
Can't accept
Their wording
“Religious items (undesirability). Includes crucifixes, menorahs, Buddha statues, rosaries and nativity sets. Excludes religious and political books and texts including the Bible, the Quran and the Torah.”
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 Broken or damaged items (general) — “Anything that is already broken or damaged.”
- Can't accept Car jacks — “Car Jacks (Safety reasons.)”
- Can't accept Lawn mowers and strimmers — “Lawn Mowers or Strimmer’s (Safety reasons.)”
- Can't accept Dentures and prosthetics — “Dentures and prosthetics (wellbeing reasons).”
- Can't accept Jewellery/earrings for pierced body parts — “Earrings and jewellery for pierced ears or any other pierced body parts (hygiene and safety reasons).”
- Can't accept Flammable firelighters and BBQ lighting tools — “Flammable items such as firelighters and barbeque lighting tools (safety and legal reasons).”
- Can't accept Books marked not for resale/distribution — “Books – Marked “Not for Sale or distribution””
- Can't accept Chemical sets — “Toys without the CE mark (safety and legal reasons). Or Chemical sets or”
- Can't accept Items made of bone (elephant, mammoth, walrus, whale) — “Items made of bone (legal reasons). Includes items made from animals such as elephants, mammoths, walruses and whales.”
- Can't accept Turtle or tortoiseshell items — “Turtle or tortoiseshell items (legal reasons). Applies to items made, in whole or in part, from any part of sea turtles, regardless of the age of the item. Tortoiseshell-patterned items made of plastic or synthetic materials are permitted, but should clearly indicate they are not made of tortoiseshell.”
- Can't accept Items made from endangered species — “Items made from endangered species (legal reasons). Endangered species are listed by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora and the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources. This applies to both new and second-hand products, but not to antiques.”
- Can't accept Golliwog-related items — “Golliwog-related items (undesirability). Includes dolls, toys, badges and books.”
- Can't accept Drugs and drug paraphernalia — “Drugs (legal reasons and undesirability). Includes prescription drugs, illegal, recreational or any other form of drugs and drug paraphernalia.”