Donate to our shops
Having a clear out? Please donate to Martlets Charity Shops
Donate to our shops
Thanks to your donations of quality items to sell in our shops, we can keep caring for people living through terminal illness in our community.
If you are looking to donate, we would love your pre-loved goods. We are looking for donations of:
- good quality clothing
- quality furniture
- electrical items fully complete and in working order
- vinyl
- bric-a-brac
- toys and games
- books, CDs and DVDs (but please call the shop before donating as we have limited space for these items)
- ... and more
You can drop off your donations in any of our shops, but please call your local shop first so they can confirm if they are able to accept your items. Shops may politely decline your donation because they do not have space, or because the item is something we cannot sell. Please also only drop off your donations when our shops are open, as if they are left, they could get ruined or stolen.
Once we receive your donations, they will be sorted by our team of staff and volunteers. If they are an item we are able to sell, they will then be put on sale in our shops.
We are grateful for all donations, but please check our list of items we cannot accept below before donating to us.
Donate to our shops
Gift Aid
When you donate, we can claim Gift Aid on the income your items generate. This is a scheme enabling Martlets to reclaim tax on a donation made by a UK taxpayer. If you pay UK tax and agree to Martlets claiming Gift Aid on your donation, the Government will give us 25p on top of every £1 your donation generates.
It does not cost you a penny. All it requires is for you to complete a form. We will then keep in touch to let you know how much we sold your items for – showing you the difference you’ve made to our community.
Thanks to your donations of quality items to sell in our shops, we can keep caring for people living through terminal illness in our community.
If you are looking to donate, we would love your pre-loved goods. We are looking for donations of:
- good quality clothing
- quality furniture
- electrical items fully complete and in working order
- vinyl
- bric-a-brac
- toys and games
- books, CDs and DVDs (but please call the shop before donating as we have limited space for these items)
- ... and more
You can drop off your donations in any of our shops, but please call your local shop first so they can confirm if they are able to accept your items. Shops may politely decline your donation because they do not have space, or because the item is something we cannot sell. Please also only drop off your donations when our shops are open, as if they are left, they could get ruined or stolen.
Once we receive your donations, they will be sorted by our team of staff and volunteers. If they are an item we are able to sell, they will then be put on sale in our shops.
We are grateful for all donations, but please check our list of items we cannot accept below before donating to us.
Gift Aid
When you donate, we can claim Gift Aid on the income your items generate. This is a scheme enabling Martlets to reclaim tax on a donation made by a UK taxpayer. If you pay UK tax and agree to Martlets claiming Gift Aid on your donation, the Government will give us 25p on top of every £1 your donation generates.
It does not cost you a penny. All it requires is for you to complete a form. We will then keep in touch to let you know how much we sold your items for – showing you the difference you’ve made to our community.
Guide to donating
Here are a list of items we sadly cannot accept
Guide to donating
Items we cannot accept
We are grateful for your support, but sadly there are some items we cannot accept to sell in our shops.
If you’re not sure, you can contact us on 01273 721188.
For any items we cannot accept, you can recycle them through Brighton & Hove City Council. Click here to visit their guidance on recycling on their website
- Upholstered furniture without fire label – (items manufactured before 1958 do not require a fire label unless they have been re-upholstered)
- Dark wood furniture
- Large wall units/display cabinets (4’ and over) unless vintage
- Flat-packed items
- Damaged items
- Hospital beds
- Fitted kitchen units
- Pianos or large electric organs
- Metal filing cabinets
- Filing cabinets without keys
- Bed frames, old beds and mattresses
- Corner TV stands
- Glass TV stands
- Large/office desks
- Baths, sinks, toilets
- Oil heaters, gas appliances, oil lamps
- Fitted carpet or carpet remnants
- Cigarette lighters and cigarette lighter refill canisters
- Knives and Scissors
- Duvets or pillows (unless sealed in original packaging), worn or dirty linen
- Heavy curtains
- Blinds (unless sealed in original packaging)
- Cushions, cushion covers and tailored furniture covers (unless fire label is attached)
- Candles without instructions
- Fireworks
- Real fur or fur-trimmed items
- Counterfeit branded clothing and accessories
- Clothing with potentially offensive slogans
- Cots, carry cots, playpens, highchairs
- Cot mattresses
- Soft toys without CE label
- Car seats with integral seat belts
- Changing mats
- Washing machines
- Dishwashers
- Old style (cathode ray tube) and non-Smart TVs
- TVs without remotes
- Ceiling lights
- Wall lights
- Trouser presses
- Routers, Sky and cable boxes
- Foot spas, pedicure, skin removers and face steamers
- Massage equipment
- Electric blankets
- Electric showers
- Sunbeds and tanning equipment
- Electric typewriters
- Waste disposal units
- Power tools without instructions, chargers or batteries
- Personal appliances, such as shavers, foot spas etc (unless in mint condition, sealed box)
- Hostess trolleys
- Knives, swords, sword sticks, crossbows, throwing stars
- Guns and ammunition (including replica guns, unless obviously toys)
- Gas appliances (mains or bottle fed)
- Oil filled radiators without a thermostat
- Oil heaters (mobile)
- Hard-wired electric cookers (small countertop cookers are acceptable)
- Gas cookers
- Microwaves
- Gym or old exercise equipment
- Buoyancy aids, life jackets, inflatable dinghies, inflatable toys for water
- Safety helmets – riding hats, crash helmets, cycle helmets
- Safety harnesses of any sort
- Firefighting equipment
- Videos tapes
- HD DVDs
- R rated DVDs
- Home recorded DVDs, video and audio tapes
- Home recorded computer games and software on recordable CDs and DVDs
- Magazines or encyclopaedias
- PCs, printers and monitors
- Laptop computers without chargers
- Counterfeit branded items
- Medication including vitamins
- Perishable goods, food and drink
- Hoists or toilet aids
- Zimmer frames and crutches
- Prescription spectacles
- Cleaning agents, solvents, adhesives
- Items made from ivory
- Petrol or diesel fuelled garden tools including lawn mowers, strimmers etc.
- Tins of paint
- Fireworks
For items which don’t appear on this list, we are happy to accept your donations. But please note that we are only able to accept donated items which are in a clean and re-saleable condition. We do not wish to cause disappointment or difficulties for you should we be unable to accept your donation.
Furniture donations
For items of furniture that we can accept, we offer a collection service. You can contact us by email on trading@martlets.org.uk or by phone at 01273 721188 to book.
If you have a collection booked our experienced team will assess your item(s) at the time of collection. We recommend you avoid making any related arrangements (e.g. for delivery of replacement items) before your collection has taken place.
If you have any questions regarding items we can’t accept please call our Trading Team on 01273 721188
Items we cannot accept
We are grateful for your support, but sadly there are some items we cannot accept to sell in our shops.
If you’re not sure, you can contact us on 01273 721188.
For any items we cannot accept, you can recycle them through Brighton & Hove City Council. Click here to visit their guidance on recycling on their website
- Upholstered furniture without fire label – (items manufactured before 1958 do not require a fire label unless they have been re-upholstered)
- Dark wood furniture
- Large wall units/display cabinets (4’ and over) unless vintage
- Flat-packed items
- Damaged items
- Hospital beds
- Fitted kitchen units
- Pianos or large electric organs
- Metal filing cabinets
- Filing cabinets without keys
- Bed frames, old beds and mattresses
- Corner TV stands
- Glass TV stands
- Large/office desks
- Baths, sinks, toilets
- Oil heaters, gas appliances, oil lamps
- Fitted carpet or carpet remnants
- Cigarette lighters and cigarette lighter refill canisters
- Knives and Scissors
- Duvets or pillows (unless sealed in original packaging), worn or dirty linen
- Heavy curtains
- Blinds (unless sealed in original packaging)
- Cushions, cushion covers and tailored furniture covers (unless fire label is attached)
- Candles without instructions
- Fireworks
- Real fur or fur-trimmed items
- Counterfeit branded clothing and accessories
- Clothing with potentially offensive slogans
- Cots, carry cots, playpens, highchairs
- Cot mattresses
- Soft toys without CE label
- Car seats with integral seat belts
- Changing mats
- Washing machines
- Dishwashers
- Old style (cathode ray tube) and non-Smart TVs
- TVs without remotes
- Ceiling lights
- Wall lights
- Trouser presses
- Routers, Sky and cable boxes
- Foot spas, pedicure, skin removers and face steamers
- Massage equipment
- Electric blankets
- Electric showers
- Sunbeds and tanning equipment
- Electric typewriters
- Waste disposal units
- Power tools without instructions, chargers or batteries
- Personal appliances, such as shavers, foot spas etc (unless in mint condition, sealed box)
- Hostess trolleys
- Knives, swords, sword sticks, crossbows, throwing stars
- Guns and ammunition (including replica guns, unless obviously toys)
- Gas appliances (mains or bottle fed)
- Oil filled radiators without a thermostat
- Oil heaters (mobile)
- Hard-wired electric cookers (small countertop cookers are acceptable)
- Gas cookers
- Microwaves
- Gym or old exercise equipment
- Buoyancy aids, life jackets, inflatable dinghies, inflatable toys for water
- Safety helmets – riding hats, crash helmets, cycle helmets
- Safety harnesses of any sort
- Firefighting equipment
- Videos tapes
- HD DVDs
- R rated DVDs
- Home recorded DVDs, video and audio tapes
- Home recorded computer games and software on recordable CDs and DVDs
- Magazines or encyclopaedias
- PCs, printers and monitors
- Laptop computers without chargers
- Counterfeit branded items
- Medication including vitamins
- Perishable goods, food and drink
- Hoists or toilet aids
- Zimmer frames and crutches
- Prescription spectacles
- Cleaning agents, solvents, adhesives
- Items made from ivory
- Petrol or diesel fuelled garden tools including lawn mowers, strimmers etc.
- Tins of paint
- Fireworks
For items which don’t appear on this list, we are happy to accept your donations. But please note that we are only able to accept donated items which are in a clean and re-saleable condition. We do not wish to cause disappointment or difficulties for you should we be unable to accept your donation.
Furniture donations
For items of furniture that we can accept, we offer a collection service. You can contact us by email on trading@martlets.org.uk or by phone at 01273 721188 to book.
If you have a collection booked our experienced team will assess your item(s) at the time of collection. We recommend you avoid making any related arrangements (e.g. for delivery of replacement items) before your collection has taken place.
If you have any questions regarding items we can’t accept please call our Trading Team on 01273 721188
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