All items · Safety equipment
Helmets and safety headgear
Also covers: bike helmet, motorcycle helmet, riding hat, climbing helmet, ski helmet
Can you donate helmets and safety headgear to a UK charity shop? Usually not.
Why shops may refuse it
A helmet that's been dropped once can be invisibly compromised — no shop can guarantee a used one protects.
What to do instead
Some manufacturers run recycling schemes; otherwise remove straps and recycle the shell where facilities exist.
Charity by charity
95 mentions- Can't accept
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Can't accept
Their wording
“Safety equipment such as bike helmets or riding helmets”
- Can't accept
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Can't accept
Their wording
“Safety or cycle helmets and safety equipment”
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Can't accept
Their wording
“Bicycle helmets.”
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Can't accept
Their wording
“Crash/riding/cycle helmets”
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Can't accept
Their wording
“Safety helmets (riding hats, crash helmets, cycle helmets)”
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Can't accept
Cycle helmets, motorbike helmets, riding hats, hard hats.
Their wording
“All types of protective headgear”
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Can't accept
Refused even if new.
Their wording
“Safety helmets – riding hats, crash helmets, cycle helmets and hard hats – EVEN IF NEW”
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Can't accept
Their wording
“Safety equipment (helmets, etc.)”
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Can't accept
Their wording
“Sports safety equipment (helmets, etc.)”
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Can't accept
Their wording
“Safety helmets, riding hats, cycle helmets and crash helmets”
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Can't accept
Motorcycle and riding helmets specifically named.
Their wording
“Motorcycle helmets or riding helmets”
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Can't accept
Also listed as 'Safety helmets' and 'Riding/cycling hats' under the same heading.
Their wording
“Crash helmets, cycle helmets, motorcycle helmets”
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Can't accept
Covers cycling, motorcycle and riding helmets
Their wording
“Safety helmets – cycling, motorcycle and riding”
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Can't accept
Their wording
“Safety equipment: car seats, crash / cycle helmets or riding hats”
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Can't accept
Only used bike helmets are named as refused; the page doesn't say whether new ones are accepted.
Their wording
“Bike Helmets (USED)”
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Can't accept
Their wording
“Safety equipment i.e. car seats, bike helmets”
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Can't accept
Their wording
“any safety equipment (child car seats, cycling helmets, for example)”
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Can't accept
Their wording
“Cycle helmets, crash helmets and riding hats”
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Can't accept
Their wording
“Safety Helmets – crash helmets, cycle helmets, riding hats”
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Can't accept
Their wording
“Safety helmets (eg. riding hats, cycle helmets, crash helmets, etc.)”
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Can't accept
Their wording
“Safety equipment (helmets, harnesses, life jackets)”
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Can't accept
Their wording
“Crash Helmets and Riding hats”
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Can't accept
Their wording
“crash helmets, cycle helmets, hard hats or other protective headgear”
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Can't accept
Their wording
“Safety equipment like child car seats and cycle helmets”
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Can't accept
Their wording
“Safety Helmets – Riding hats, crash helmets, cycle helmets”
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Can't accept
Listed as unsuitable for onward sale under Trading Standards regulations.
Their wording
“Bike helmets”
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Can't accept
Their wording
“Crash helmets & riding hats”
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Can't accept
Their wording
“Bicycle helmets, safety hard hats or protective clothing”
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Can't accept
Their wording
“Protective Head Gear – Bicycle helmets, hard hats, riding hats”
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Can't accept
Their wording
“Safety helmets, harnesses, riding hats and crash helmets”
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Can't accept
Their wording
“Safety helmets – riding hats, crash helmets, cycle helmets”
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Can't accept
"Cycle helmets" also listed separately in the same disallowed list.
Their wording
“Safety helmets, riding hats, crash helmets”
- Can't accept
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Can't accept
Their wording
“Protective headgear, for example, cycle or motorbike helmets, riding hats”
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Can't accept
Nightingale House Hospice category-wide rule
Stated as a whole item type they don't accept.
Their wording
“Personal safety equipment”
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Can't accept
Their wording
“Bicycle helmets Due to Health and Safety regulations.”
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Can't accept
Their wording
“Safety equipment (i.e life jackets, safety helmets, seats and harnesses)”
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Can't accept
Their wording
“Safety headgear (e.g. motorcycle crash helmets)”
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Can't accept
Their wording
“Safety helmets”
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Can't accept
Their wording
“Safety helmets, riding hats, crash helmets”
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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.”
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Can't accept
Their wording
“Safety equipment such as bike helmets or riding helmets”
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Can't accept
Their wording
“safety helmets, riding hats, cycle helmets, crash helmets”
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Can't accept
Their wording
“Unfortunately, we are not able to accept donations of commodes, crash or bicycle helmets, baby or child car seats.”
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Can't accept
Riding hats, crash helmets, cycle helmets and hard hats.
Their wording
“safety helmets - riding hats, crash helmets, cycle helmets and hard hats”
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Can't accept
Their wording
“safety helmets”
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Can't accept
Also listed separately on the same page as 'Used motorcycle and cycle helmets'.
Their wording
“Safety helmets”
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Can't accept
Shown when searching 'Protective headgear'.
Their wording
“Thank you for thinking of us. Unfortunately, we’re unable to accept this item for health and safety reasons. We can’t guarantee to our customers that second-hand safety equipment is still fully protective or hasn’t been damaged before.”
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Can't accept
Their wording
“Safety helmets – riding hats, crash helmets, cycle helmets”
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Can't accept
Their wording
“Safety and sports equipment: Including helmets, harnesses, life jackets, and firefighting gear.”
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Can't accept
'Riding hats' also listed separately as not accepted on the same list.
Their wording
“Safety/cycle helmets Riding hats”
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Can't accept
Their wording
“Safety helmets – riding hats, crash helmets, cycle helmets”
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Can't accept
Their wording
“Crash Helmets and Riding hats”
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Can't accept
Their wording
“Crash helmets, cycle helmets, riding hats, protective clothing or equipment of any kind”
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Can't accept
Also listed as "Safety helmets" on the shop-finder page's donations checklist.
Their wording
“Helmets”
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Can't accept
Their wording
“Helmets”
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Can't accept
Their wording
“Safety helmets, riding hats, crash helmets, cycle helmets”
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Can't accept
Their wording
“Crash helmets, cycle helmets and riding hats”
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Can't accept
Safety helmets and cycle helmets listed under items the charity cannot take.
Their wording
“Underwear, safety equipment, safety helmets, safety harnesses, cycle helmets, life jackets or buoyancy aids, weapons, prescription glasses, items made from ivory, personal items, such as shavers (unless unused and in a sealed box)”
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Can't accept
Their wording
“All types of protective headgear Includes cycle helmets, motorbike helmets, riding hats, hard hats.”
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Can't accept
Their wording
“❌ Protective head wear (Cycle/Crash/Horse-riding helmets etc)”
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Can't accept
Their wording
“Cycle, riding or crash helmets”
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Can't accept
Their wording
“Helmets of any type (e.g., cycle / motorbike helmets, hard hats, and riding hats)”
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Can't accept
Their wording
“Helmets, buoyancy aids, inflatable dinghies, skateboards, scooters”
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Can't accept
Their wording
“crash helmets, cycle helmets, riding helmets”
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Can't accept
Their wording
“Safety Helmets – Riding hats, crash helmets, cycle helmets”
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Can't accept
Excluded from the children's scooters/toys donations list.
Their wording
“no crash helmets or riding hats”
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Can't accept
Their wording
“Safety helmets, riding hats, crash helmets”
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Can't accept
Their wording
“Safety helmets”
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Can't accept
Their wording
“Used helmets (bike, motorcycle, riding)”
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Can't accept
Their wording
“All safety headwear and harnesses”
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Can't accept
Covers all types of helmets and visors.
Their wording
“Safety headgear e.g. all types of helmets and visors”
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Can't accept
Their wording
“Crash and cycle helmets, riding hats”
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Can't accept
Their wording
“Safety helmets, riding hats, crash helmets, cycle helmets.”
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Can't accept
Their wording
“Safety helmets, for example riding hats, crash helmets, cycle helmets”
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Can't accept
From their furniture-collection can't-collect list; harnesses are named in the same bullet.
Their wording
“Safety equipment, such as helmets or harnesses”
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Can't accept
Bike/motorbike/riding helmets
Their wording
“Bike/motorbike/riding helmets”
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Can't accept
Their wording
“Crash helmets – bikes / riding”
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Can't accept
Their wording
“Crash helmets, cycle helmets, visors and riding hats”
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Can't accept
Includes crash, cycle and riding helmets
Their wording
“Safety helmets: crash, cycle, riding hats”
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Can't accept
Their wording
“All Crash Helmets”
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Can't accept
Their wording
“Crash helmets, riding hats, hard hats.”
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Can't accept
Listed under unaccepted safety equipment
Their wording
“Safety Equipment eg helmets, car seat”
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Can't accept
Bike helmets are cited as the example under 'sport and safety equipment' that cannot be guaranteed safe.
Their wording
“Sport and safety equipment i.e. bike helmets”
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Can't accept
Their wording
“Safety helmets”
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Can't accept
Listed under 'Safety Equipment'.
Their wording
“Hard hats, safety pads and protective gear as well as children's car seats cannot be accepted even when unused.”
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Can't accept
Their wording
“Cycle or motorcycle helmets”
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Check first
safety helmets/crash helmets only accepted new and sealed in original box
Their wording
“New items can only be sold if sealed in the original box”
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Check first
Accepted only if brand new with tags. The free furniture collection service separately excludes safety helmets, riding hats, crash helmets and cycle helmets outright (no new-with-tags exception there).
Their wording
“Bike helmets unless brand new with tags”
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Check first
Only second-hand safety and crash helmets are refused; new ones would seem acceptable.
Their wording
“Second-hand safety and crash helmets.”
- Check first
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Check first
Only accepted if boxed and brand new.
Their wording
“Motorcycle and cycle helmets and riding hats (unless boxed and brand new)”
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Check first
Only accepted if new and in original packaging (at Large/Small Drop-offs). The Furniture store refuses used safety items outright with no stated exception.
Their wording
“Safety Items: please note we are unable to accept safety items such as helmets and car seats unless they are new in original packaging.”
Not mentioned in 58 charities' guidance
Absence from a charity's list doesn't mean they accept it — it just isn't singled out. Ask your local shop.
- Ardgowan Hospice
- Barnardo's
- Barnsley Hospice
- Bolton Hospice
- Butterwick Hospice
- Children's Hospices Across Scotland (CHAS)
- Cransley Hospice Trust
- Crisis
- Derian House Children's Hospice
- Dogs Trust
- Douglas Macmillan Hospice
- East Lancashire Hospice
- Florence Nightingale Hospice Charity
- Garden House Hospice Care
- Helen & Douglas House
- Hope House & Ty Gobaith Children's Hospices
- Hospice at Home Carlisle and North Lakeland
- Hospice in the Weald
- Hospice Isle of Man
- Katharine House Hospice (Stafford)
- Katharine House Hospice, Banbury
- Keech Hospice Care
- Marie Curie
- Martin House Children's Hospice
- Moya Cole Hospice
- North Devon Hospice
- North London Hospice
- Octavia Foundation
- PDSA
- Phyllis Tuckwell
- Pilgrims Hospices
- Primrose Hospice
- Prospect Hospice
- Rennie Grove Peace Hospice Care
- Rotherham Hospice
- Royal Trinity Hospice (London)
- Save the Children
- Scope
- Sense Scotland
- Severn Hospice
- Shelter
- St Catherine's Hospice (Lancashire)
- St Columba's Hospice
- St John's Hospice (London)
- St Luke's Cheshire Hospice
- St Margaret's Hospice Care (Somerset)
- St Raphael's Hospice
- St Richard's Hospice
- Strathcarron Hospice
- The Kirkwood
- The Myton Hospices
- The Prince of Wales Hospice
- The Shakespeare Hospice
- Traid
- Willow Wood Hospice
- Wirral Hospice St John's
- Woodgreen Pets Charity
- YMCA (England & Wales)