The GWAAC Retail

Shop Donation Guidelines

Donating your preloved clothes or household items to our charity shop is a wonderful way to support your local air ambulance.

To save you time on your next visit, we’ve created a quick guide to help you know what can be donated when you’re having a clear-out. Alternatively, you can always check in advance by calling your nearest GWAAC shop on 0303 4444 999.

Once we’ve received your items, they go through several steps before they’re ready for sale:

Sorted

Checked for quality, safety, and saleability.

Processed

Steamed, cleaned, tested and prepared.

Priced

Carefully researched to tag and price suitably.

Sold

Displayed on the shop floor for customer to sell.
A smiling staff member from Great Western Air Ambulance Charity receives a box of donated picture frames from a cheerful supporter at a donation point indoors.

What can I donate to the shop?

  • Clothing and shoes
  • Accessories, bags and jewellery
  • Books, CDs, LPs and DVDs (we cannot accept home-recorded media)
  • Homeware items (photo frames, kitchenware, etc.)
  • Children’s toys and games (soft toys must have their CE label intact)
  • Small electrical items
  • Soft furnishings (small rugs, curtains, etc.)

Please note we can only accept furnishings that still have fire tags on.

For the safety and welfare of our team, there may be times when we’re unable to accept some or all of your items due to limited space in our sorting area. If this happens, please speak to a member of staff who can advise when we’ll next be able to take your donations.

Don't forget to Gift Aid it!

Gift Aid allows us to boost your generous donation by 25%, by claiming the tax back from the Government.

If you're a UK taxpayer, you're likely able to sign up for Gift Aid at no cost to yourself.

All you need to do is complete a simple one-page form at the till before donating, and we’ll take care of the rest.

Make your generosity go even further by signing up to Gift Aid today.

What can’t I donate to the shop?

While we truly appreciate every donation, there are some restrictions on what we can accept for legal, practical or safety reasons. Sometimes, even with the best intentions, donating unsuitable items can cost the charity money to dispose of, doing more harm than good.

  • Sharp items (scissors, knives, etc.)
  • Electronic devices with personal data
  • Used duvets and mattresses
  • Safety equipment
    • Helmets
    • Harnesses
    • Life jackets
  • Children’s items
    • Car seats
    • Pushchairs/prams
    • Cots and mattresses
    • High chairs
  • Medication or medical equipment
    • including prescription glasses
  • Open cosmetics
  • Hard drives
  • Used undergarments
  • Disability aids or inflatables
  • White goods
  • Furniture
  • Fireworks
  • Perishable goods (food and drink)
  • Solvents and adhesives

Low-quality, unsuitable-for-sale clothing or textiles? Deposit them at the nearest clothing bank:

nearby Clothing banks