Donate to our Shops

Donate to our shops

Are you thinking about having a clear-out? Why not make a difference while tidying up? We’re always looking for donations to help stock our charity shops. Your unwanted items can find a new home and help support animals in need.

We gladly accept a wide range of items, including clothing, household goods, and even small electrical items. Every donation helps fund our vital work and brings us closer to improving the lives of animals in our care.

Drop off your items at one of our charity shops today and turn your decluttering into a generous act of kindness!

Drop off times and Points

You can drop off your donations at any of our three charity shops or at our Colchester Clinic (located on Harwich Road) during opening hours.

If you are donating under Gift Aid, please knock or hand your items directly to a staff member so we can take your details – Gift Aid significantly increases the value of your donation to us. For rags, please place them in separately labeled bags.

We kindly ask that you do not leave items outside of opening hours, as they may become damaged by the weather, reducing their value and usability.

Your generosity helps us make a real difference, so thank you for supporting our cause!

Items we can accept

We’re always looking for donations to help fund our animal welfare activities. Before getting your items ready to donate, check if we are able to accept them.

  • Small electricals, for example: home audio and visual, home appliances.
  • Technology, for example: phones, tablets, PCs and laptops.
  • Clothing, for example: womenswear, menswear, children’s (including shoes).
  • Accessories, for example: jewellery, watches, handbags, purses and wallets.
  • Books, for example: comics, antiques, fiction and non-fiction, kids books.
  • Musical instruments, for example: guitars, keyboards, trumpets.
  • Entertainment, for example: video games, vinyl, games consoles, toys and games.
  • Homeware, for example: vases, glassware, silver.
  • Collectables, for example: stamps, coins and notes.

Items we cannot accept

There are some items we cannot accept, either because of a lack of space, or because of legal or health and safety reasons; check if we are able to accept them

  • Furniture, for example: sofas, bedroom furniture, dining tables and chairs.
  • Electricals, for example: TVs, washing machines, fridges.
  • Car seats and booster seats
  • Soft toys without a CE or UKCA CE label.
  • Items made from ivory
  • Real fur or fur trimmed items

Donations of Goods for Rags to raise money

If you have items of clothing that aren’t suitable for resale, don’t worry – they can still make a difference! These items can be bagged as “Rags,” and we can generate a small amount of income from them. Please ensure bags are clearly marked as “Rags” when you drop them off.

Your thoughtful donations, no matter the condition, help support our our animal welfare activities.

Increase the value of your donation with Gift Aid

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What is Gift Aid?

Gift Aid is a government scheme that helps your support go further. If you’re a UK taxpayer and opt-in to Gift Aid, the RSPCA can claim an extra 25p for every £1 donated, at no extra cost to you. That’s as long as you’ve paid the basic rate of tax and donated from your own funds.

This means Gift Aid can increase the value of your donations by 25%, making your donations go further for animals.

How does it work?

When you add Gift Aid to your donation, the government gives us 25% more, at no extra cost to you.

If you pay less Income Tax and/or Capital Gains Tax than the amount of Gift Aid claimed on all your donations in that tax year, it is your responsibility to pay any difference.

Opting in to Gift Aid transforms every £1 you have given in the past 4 years and in the future into £1.25 at no additional cost to you.

You can Gift Aid any donations you make. For example, if you make a cash, cheque or debit card donation or donate items for us to sell in our shops – you can Gift Aid it!

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