All items · Restricted materials
Counterfeit and pirated goods
Also covers: fake designer, bootleg, burned cd, knock-off
Can you donate counterfeit and pirated goods to a UK charity shop? No.
The short answer
They say no
Of the 153 UK charities we track, 31 say no and none says yes.
Evidence last verified
Why shops may refuse it
Selling fakes is illegal, full stop — shops must refuse anything they suspect.
What to do instead
Counterfeits shouldn't circulate — dispose of them rather than passing them on.
Charity by charity
31 mentions-
Can't accept
Their wording
“Fake or counterfeit items”
-
Can't accept
Their wording
“Includes pirate DVDs and counterfeit CDs”
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Can't accept
Their wording
“Home-recorded computer games, software, CD's or DVD's”
-
Can't accept
Their wording
“Counterfeit (fake) items”
-
Can't accept
Their wording
“Counterfeit goods”
-
Can't accept
Also fake branded handbags/purses
Their wording
“Pirated or copied CDs and DVDs”
-
Can't accept
Their wording
“Counterfeit goods”
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Can't accept
Their wording
“Counterfeits or fakes of any type”
-
Can't accept
Their wording
“Any counterfeit items”
-
Can't accept
Their wording
“Fake/counterfeit goods”
-
Can't accept
'Pirate' (counterfeit) DVDs specifically named
Their wording
“Pirate DVDs, VHS videos and magazines”
-
Can't accept
Their wording
“counterfeit or homemade films and music”
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Can't accept
Also listed as 'Any Counterfeit Products' under the Multi Media Items list on the same page.
Their wording
“We cannot accept any counterfeit clothing, accessories, films, music, software etc.”
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Can't accept
Their wording
“Counterfeit (fake or imitation) products”
-
Can't accept
Their wording
“Any goods that infringe the copyright law”
-
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.”
-
Can't accept
Also pirate DVDs and computer games.
Their wording
“counterfeit, fake goods”
-
Can't accept
Shown when searching 'Counterfeit Items' (also 'Bootlegs').
Their wording
“Thank you for thinking of us. Unfortunately, we’re unable to accept this item because of legal restrictions. Some things need special licences or checks that we’re not able to have in place.”
-
Can't accept
Counterfeit branded items generally are also listed as not accepted.
Their wording
“Counterfeit branded clothing and accessories”
-
Can't accept
Their wording
“Counterfeit designers goods”
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Can't accept
Their wording
“Pirate DVDs”
-
Can't accept
Their wording
“Counterfeit items including DVDs and designer goods”
-
Can't accept
Their wording
“Home-recorded or copied DVDs / CDs, computer games, and software”
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Can't accept
Their wording
“Counterfeit designer goods”
-
Can't accept
Their wording
“Fake/ counterfeit goods”
-
Can't accept
Also separately states 'Counterfeit media of all types' is refused.
Their wording
“Counterfeit or imitation products”
-
Can't accept
Their wording
“bootlegs (usually a live recording or studio outtakes, which has not been issued by the record company)”
-
Can't accept
Their wording
“Copy CDs/DVDs”
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Can't accept
Their wording
“Counterfeit items”
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Can't accept
Pirate DVDs/CDs not accepted.
Their wording
“All VHS videos, or pirate/personal DVDs /CDs”
-
Can't accept
A separate list item also excludes 'Items infringing copyright law.'
Their wording
“Counterfeit goods / replicas.”
Not mentioned in 122 charities' guidance
Absence from a charity's list doesn't mean they accept it — it just isn't singled out. Ask your local shop.
- Accord Hospice
- Acorns Children's Hospice
- Age UK
- Ardgowan Hospice
- Ayrshire Hospice
- Barnardo's
- Barnsley Hospice
- Blythe House Hospice
- Bolton Hospice
- British Heart Foundation
- Butterwick Hospice
- Children's Hospice South West
- Children's Hospices Across Scotland (CHAS)
- Cransley Hospice Trust
- Crisis
- Demelza Hospice Care for Children
- Derian House Children's Hospice
- Dogs Trust
- Douglas Macmillan Hospice
- Dr Kershaw's Hospice
- East Lancashire Hospice
- Eden Valley Hospice and Jigsaw, Cumbria's Children's Hospice
- Emmaus
- FARA Charity Shops
- Farleigh Hospice
- Florence Nightingale Hospice Charity
- Garden House Hospice Care
- Great Oaks Hospice
- Great Western Air Ambulance Charity
- Helen & Douglas House
- Highland Hospice
- Hope House & Ty Gobaith Children's Hospices
- Hospice at Home Carlisle and North Lakeland
- Hospice in the Weald
- Hospice Isle of Man
- Hospice of the Good Shepherd
- Hospice of the Valleys
- Jersey Hospice Care
- Julia's House
- Katharine House Hospice (Stafford)
- Katharine House Hospice, Banbury
- Keech Hospice Care
- Lindsey Lodge Hospice
- Longfield Community Hospice
- LOROS Hospice
- Marie Curie
- Martin House Children's Hospice
- Moya Cole Hospice
- Naomi House & Jack's Place
- Nightingale House Hospice
- North Devon Hospice
- North London Hospice
- Nottinghamshire Hospice
- Octavia Foundation
- Overgate Hospice
- Oxfam
- PDSA
- Pendleside Hospice
- Phyllis Tuckwell
- Pilgrims Hospices
- Primrose Hospice
- Princess Alice Hospice
- Prospect Hospice
- Rainbows Hospice for Children and Young People
- Rennie Grove Peace Hospice Care
- Rotherham Hospice
- Rowans Hospice
- Royal Trinity Hospice (London)
- Saint Francis Hospice
- Samaritans
- Save the Children
- Scope
- Sense Scotland
- Severn Hospice
- Shaw Trust
- Shelter
- Shooting Star Children's Hospices
- Springhill Hospice
- St Andrew's Hospice (Lanarkshire)
- St Barnabas Hospice (Lincolnshire)
- St Catherine's Hospice (Lancashire)
- St Columba's Hospice
- St Cuthbert's Hospice
- St David's Hospice Care
- St Giles Hospice
- St Helena Hospice
- St John's Hospice (Lancaster, Morecambe, Kendal & Garstang)
- St John's Hospice (London)
- St Luke's Cheshire Hospice
- St Luke's Hospice (Harrow & Brent)
- St Luke's Hospice Basildon & Thurrock
- St Luke's Hospice Plymouth
- St Margaret's Hospice Care (Somerset)
- St Mary's Hospice
- St Michael's Hospice (North Hampshire)
- St Nicholas Hospice Care
- St Peter & St James Hospice
- St Peter's Hospice
- St Raphael's Hospice
- St Vincent de Paul Society (SVP)
- St Vincent's Hospice
- Strathcarron Hospice
- Thames Hospice
- The Children's Trust
- The Kirkwood
- The Myton Hospices
- The Prince and Princess of Wales Hospice
- The Prince of Wales Hospice
- The Shakespeare Hospice
- Traid
- Treetops Hospice Trust
- Tynedale Hospice at Home
- Wakefield Hospice
- Willen Hospice
- Willow Burn Hospice
- Willow Wood Hospice
- Willowbrook Hospice
- Wirral Hospice St John's
- Wisdom Hospice
- Woking & Sam Beare Hospices
- Woodgreen Pets Charity
- YMCA (England & Wales)