Dorset Blind Association is asking local people to think carefully about what they donate, as unsuitable items are now costing the charity around £2,500 a month to dispose of.
The charity, which runs 12 shops across Dorset, says it is receiving increasing numbers of items that are stained, damaged, broken or otherwise unsuitable for resale.
“In the past, some unwanted textiles could be passed to rag and textile companies, which could generate a small income for the charity.” However, changes in the textile recycling market mean that companies are no longer accepting much of this material, leaving charities having to pay for its disposal instead.
The charity is currently spending around £2,500 a month dealing with unsuitable donations. While some disposal costs are unavoidable, reducing the amount of unsaleable material would free up valuable funds for its work.
Every unsuitable donation also takes up valuable volunteer time and shop space while it is sorted and dealt with.
Dorset Blind Association wants to stress that good-quality donations are very welcome and make a real difference.
So, what makes a good donation?
Dorset Blind Association is looking for clean, good-quality items that are complete, in good condition and suitable for resale, including:
Clothing, footwear and accessories – men’s, women’s and children’s
CDs, DVDs and vinyl
Homeware
Bric-a-brac and accessories
And other good-quality items that someone else could enjoy and use
A simple rule of thumb is, “Would I be happy to give this to a friend?”, or “Would I expect someone else to be willing to buy this?”
“We are incredibly grateful to the people who donate to our shops, and we absolutely want them to keep coming,” says Jonathan Holyhead, CEO of DBA
“What we want people to understand is that we can’t sell or recycle everything we receive. If something is stained, broken or in poor condition, it actually costs us money to dispose of it. Unfortunately, donations like these don’t help us, they increase our operating costs and mean less money is available to provide our services. The best donation is something clean, complete and in good condition, something you could genuinely imagine someone else buying and enjoying.”
The charity also believes there is a genuine misconception that anything donated to a charity shop will automatically be recycled or generate some income.
The message is simple: donate good-quality items, and your unwanted things can help make a real difference to local people living with sight loss.
Dorset Blind Association is planning a local awareness campaign to show people more about what its shop teams and volunteers encounter and, importantly, what makes a great donation.
People can drop their donations directly into any of Dorset Blind Association’s 12 shops across Dorset.
Find your nearest Dorset Blind Association shop
For people who may struggle to get to a shop, free home collections are also available:
BCP & East Dorset:
07849 641149
thehub@dorsetblind.org.uk
Sherborne, Weymouth, Portland & Bridport:
07570 425900
weymouthshop@dorsetblind.org.uk
Donate good. Do good.
