St Oswald's Hospice
As of , St Oswald's Hospice publishes donation guidance covering 57 of the 110 items in this directory: 34 they can't accept, 13 they may accept in some cases and 10 they accept, plus 1 category-wide rule.
Also runs a free Collection Line service for furniture and white goods (does not currently collect clothing or books).
Baby & children
5-
Can't accept
Their wording
“Car seats, booster seats”
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Check first
Only accepted with a label; cots/carrycots also require identification (see 'Cots, carry cots, playpens, high chairs – without identification').
Their wording
“Cot mattresses- without label”
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Check first
Only accepted with identification (not accepted without it).
Their wording
“Cots, carry cots, playpens, high chairs – without identification”
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Check first
Only accepted if labelled (not accepted without a label).
Their wording
“Prams, pushchairs, buggies – without label”
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Check first
Only accepted with identification (not accepted without it).
Their wording
“Cots, carry cots, playpens, high chairs – without identification”
Toys & games
3-
Can't accept
Refused without a CE label.
Their wording
“Soft toys- without CE label”
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Accepted
Listed under 'Toys, gifts, decorations and bric-a-brac'.
Their wording
“Including ornaments, unwanted and unopened gifts, toys, jigsaws, decorations and craft items.”
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Accepted
Listed under 'Toys, gifts, decorations and bric-a-brac'.
Their wording
“Including ornaments, unwanted and unopened gifts, toys, jigsaws, decorations and craft items.”
Furniture
4-
Can't accept
Their wording
“Glass TV units”
-
Can't accept
Their wording
“Upholstery Furniture – without a label or fire safety instructions.”
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Check first
Only accepted with safety instructions and safety devices attached.
Their wording
“Blinds without safety instructions and safety devices attached”
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Accepted
Listed under 'Large furniture'; oversized wall units/sideboards face separate size limits.
Their wording
“Such as beds, dining table sets (chairs included), wardrobes, TV stands, book cases and drawers.”
Homeware & household
2-
Check first
Only accepted with instructions (not accepted without).
Their wording
“Candles without instructions”
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Accepted
Listed under 'Toys, gifts, decorations and bric-a-brac'.
Their wording
“Including ornaments, unwanted and unopened gifts, toys, jigsaws, decorations and craft items.”
Electrical
13-
Can't accept
Their wording
“Electric blankets”
-
Can't accept
Their wording
“Electric showers”
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Can't accept
Also listed as 'Gas appliances, Oil lamps' under Furniture and Housewares.
Their wording
“Gas appliances (mains or bottles goods)”
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Can't accept
Their wording
“Storage heaters (hardwired)”
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Can't accept
Their wording
“Sunbeds and tanning equipment”
-
Can't accept
Only accepted if in mint condition and sealed box.
Their wording
“Personal appliances, such as shavers, foot spas etc. (unless in mint condition, sealed box)”
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Can't accept
Their wording
“Waste disposal units”
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Check first
Only accepted once all software/data has been removed.
Their wording
“Computer equipment that does not have its software removed”
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Check first
Washing machines, fridges/freezers accepted only if in good working condition with a plug attached; ovens/cookers are separately refused (see 'Ovens or cookers').
Their wording
“We accept electrical items* that are in good working condition as well as a range of kitchenware (crockery, glasses, pots and pans). Examples of electrical items you can donate are listed below: • Kettles • Toasters • TVs • Gym equipment • Washing machines • Microwaves • Fridge and freezers • Hairdryers and styling irons *Please note: All electrical items must have a plug attached.”
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Check first
Only accepted if in good working condition and with a plug attached.
Their wording
“We accept electrical items* that are in good working condition as well as a range of kitchenware (crockery, glasses, pots and pans). Examples of electrical items you can donate are listed below: • Kettles • Toasters • TVs • Gym equipment • Washing machines • Microwaves • Fridge and freezers • Hairdryers and styling irons *Please note: All electrical items must have a plug attached.”
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Check first
Only accepted if supplied with a thermostat.
Their wording
“Oil filled radiators that are not supplied with a thermostat”
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Check first
TVs accepted only if in good working condition and with a plug attached.
Their wording
“We accept electrical items* that are in good working condition as well as a range of kitchenware (crockery, glasses, pots and pans). Examples of electrical items you can donate are listed below: • Kettles • Toasters • TVs • Gym equipment • Washing machines • Microwaves • Fridge and freezers • Hairdryers and styling irons *Please note: All electrical items must have a plug attached.”
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Check first
Only accepted if in good working condition and with a plug attached.
Their wording
“We accept electrical items* that are in good working condition as well as a range of kitchenware (crockery, glasses, pots and pans). Examples of electrical items you can donate are listed below: • Kettles • Toasters • TVs • Gym equipment • Washing machines • Microwaves • Fridge and freezers • Hairdryers and styling irons *Please note: All electrical items must have a plug attached.”
DIY & garden
1-
Can't accept
Not accepted without instructions.
Their wording
“Power tools without instructions”
Safety equipment
2-
Can't accept
Their wording
“Safety Helmets – Riding hats, crash helmets, cycle helmets”
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Can't accept
Their wording
“Buoyancy aids, life jackets, inflatable dinghies, inflatable toys for water”
Mobility & medical
1-
Can't accept
Their wording
“Medication including vitamins”
Health & beauty
3-
Can't accept
Their wording
“Hot water bottles”
-
Can't accept
Their wording
“Prescription spectacles”
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Can't accept
Only accepted unopened and in date.
Their wording
“Including perfume, makeup, bubble bath, moisturiser and more. *Please note these must be UNOPENED and in date.”
Sharps & weapons
3-
Can't accept
Fireworks also refused separately (see 'Fireworks' under Furniture and Housewares).
Their wording
“Guns and ammunition”
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Can't accept
Guns also refused separately (see 'Guns and ammunition').
Their wording
“Knives, Swords, sword sticks, crossbows”
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Can't accept
Also repeated under Weapons as 'Knives, Swords, sword sticks, crossbows'.
Their wording
“Knives and Scissors”
Hazardous materials
3-
Can't accept
Their wording
“Firefighting equipment”
-
Can't accept
Their wording
“Cleaning agents, solvents, adhesives”
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Can't accept
Their wording
“Petrol or diesel fuelled garden tools including lawn mowers, strimmer's etc.”
Food & drink
2✕ Can't accept Blanket refusal of perishable food and drink items. — “Perishable goods, food and drink”
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Can't accept
Their wording
“Perishable goods, food and drink”
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Can't accept
'Drink' refused as part of perishable goods.
Their wording
“Perishable goods, food and drink”
Media & books
4-
Can't accept
Their wording
“Home recorded DVDs, video and audio tapes”
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Accepted
Listed under 'Entertainment'.
Their wording
“Vinyls, CDs, DVDs, cassettes, videos online gaming and books.”
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Accepted
Listed under 'Entertainment'; home-recorded DVDs are separately refused.
Their wording
“Vinyls, CDs, DVDs, cassettes, videos online gaming and books.”
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Accepted
'Videos' listed under 'Entertainment' as accepted; home-recorded video tapes are separately refused.
Their wording
“Vinyls, CDs, DVDs, cassettes, videos online gaming and books.”
Restricted materials
5-
Can't accept
Their wording
“Counterfeit designer goods”
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Can't accept
Their wording
“Items made from ivory”
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Can't accept
Their wording
“Real fur or fur trimmed items”
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Can't accept
Their wording
“Any sexually explicit material or items”
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Can't accept
Their wording
“Cigarette lighters and cigarette lighter refill canisters”
Bedding & textiles
1-
Can't accept
Refused for resale; clean but worn duvets may still be accepted for recycling (see 'We can recycle material!' FAQ on the same page).
Their wording
“Used pillows or duvets”
Clothing & accessories
3-
Accepted
Listed under 'Clothes, shoes and accessories'.
Their wording
“Womenswear and menswear (e.g. tops, dresses, suits, coats, summer/beach wear, nightwear) for a range of occasions (parties, work, vintage, casual, sports)”
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Accepted
Their wording
“Accessories such as bags, belts, hats, ties, jewellery”
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Accepted
Wellington boots given as an example of accepted footwear.
Their wording
“Whether you're donating good quality pre-loved work wear, wedding dresses or wellington boots, we can receive them!”
Sport & outdoor
2-
Can't accept
Inflatable dinghies and inflatable water toys refused, listed alongside life jackets/buoyancy aids.
Their wording
“Buoyancy aids, life jackets, inflatable dinghies, inflatable toys for water”
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Check first
'Gym equipment' listed as an example accepted electrical item, only if working and with a plug attached.
Their wording
“We accept electrical items* that are in good working condition as well as a range of kitchenware (crockery, glasses, pots and pans). Examples of electrical items you can donate are listed below: • Kettles • Toasters • TVs • Gym equipment • Washing machines • Microwaves • Fridge and freezers • Hairdryers and styling irons *Please note: All electrical items must have a plug attached.”
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 Wall units over 39in (112cm) wide — “Wall units over 39in(112cm) wide. (If your unit is up to 48”/4ft wide and light pine/wood please contact the team as we may be able to accept it)”
- Can't accept Side boards over 7ft wide — “Side boards over 7ft wide (Unless teak or pine)”
- Can't accept Dark wood dining table sets — “Dark wood dining table sets”
- Can't accept Oil and Gas Agas (cookers) — “Oil and Gas Agas”
- Can't accept Ovens or cookers — “Ovens or cookers”
- Check first Gaming machines / slot machines — Games consoles are accepted. — “Gaming machines e.g. slot machines (we do accept games consoles such as PlayStation, Nintendo Wii etc.)”
- Can't accept Seconds and end-of-line goods — “Seconds and end-of-line goods”
- Check first Cushions, cushion covers and tailored furniture covers — Refused without a fire label. — “Cushions, cushion covers and tailored furniture covers – without a fire label”
- Can't accept Home recorded computer games and software on recordable CDs/DVDs — “Home recorded computer games and software on recordable CDs and DVDs”
- Can't accept Oil lamps — “Gas appliances, Oil lamps”
- Can't accept Electric beds — “Electric beds”
- Can't accept Electric fires — “Electric fires”
- Check first Christmas trees — Refused without box and instructions. — “Christmas trees- without box and instructions”
- Can't accept Safety harness of any sort — “Safety harness of any sort”
- Can't accept Fitted carpets — “Fitted carpets”
- Check first Bunk beds — Refused without instructions. — “Bunk beds – without instructions”