Do you ever get the feeling that you need to declutter your home? If you do, you’re not alone. Many of us find going through our possessions and finding items we no longer use to be the perfect way to reset.
You could put items you don’t use, but just aren’t quite ready to say goodbye to yet, into one of Glasgow’s self-storage units, to help free up space in your closets and cupboards.
For those pieces that no longer serve you, rather than throwing them away, give them a new lease of life by donating them to charity, participating in the circular economy, avoiding landfill and making bargain hunters, vintage enthusiasts or eco-conscious shoppers very happy.
In this blog, we’ll share some insight into where in Glasgow to donate any pre-loved items, allowing you to create some space in your life while supporting local charities.
Decluttering for good – why donating locally matters
There is a growing trend in decluttering and sustainable living, with more and more people opting to live in decluttered spaces.
There are a number of environmental and social benefits of donating unwanted items rather than just binning them, with 215 million tonnes of unwanted goods going into landfill in the UK every year. The more people embrace the circular economy and donate unwanted household items, books and clothing to charity shops, the better it is for everyone.
With the cost of living high, charity shops support local causes and offer affordable shopping: a win-win! On top of this, if you are signed up to Gift Aid, a charity can claim the tax back on your donation, making your donation even more valuable to the charity you choose to support. As a result, charities can claim an extra 25% on top of the price your item sells for in their shop.
In Glasgow, we are spoilt for choice when it comes to good charity shops, both from a purchasing and donating point of view. And by giving to charity, you get the satisfaction that you’ve done something good.
What can you donate to charity when decluttering?
Glasgow’s charity shops will most likely accept clothes, books, furniture, toys and electrical items. These items will need to be in good repair: clean, in good condition and safe to use. Here’s a brief list of common items charity shops will accept:
- Clothing (adult and children’s)
- Shoes and boots
- Handbags and accessories
- Jewellery
- Books
- DVDs, CDs, and vinyl
- Toys and games
- Kitchenware (plates, mugs, glasses, utensils)
- Stationery
- Sports equipment
Different shops will have accept different items; however, all charity shops will accept any of the above list.
The most popular charity shops in Glasgow
There are so many good charity shops in Glasgow to choose from! Here are just some of them listed below.
Barnardo’s Glasgow
There are 10 Barnardo’s charity shops in Glasgow, meaning you’ll be spoilt for choice for where to donate, no matter where you live in the city. For a full list of the items they accept, take a look here.
Profits from every purchase help to transform the lives of children, young people and families across the UK to feel safer, happier and healthier.
The donation process is simple; just bring your pre-loved items into the store, and a member of staff will be on hand to accept them. You can also order postal donation bags if you aren’t able to get to Barnardo’s, yourself or even arrange drop off or home collection.
Cancer Research UK
In the last 50 years, Cancer Research UK has helped double cancer survival in the UK and each item sold in its shops helps fund life-saving research.
There are a number of Cancer Research UK shops in Glasgow, one in Partick, Byres Road, Sauchiehall Street, Anniesland and Queen Street. You can find your nearest shop here.
They are always in need of good quality donations, including clothing and footwear, jewellery and accessories and homeware. You can find a list of items they cannot accept here.
British Heart Foundation
The British Heart Foundation (BHF) is the UK’s biggest independent funder of research into cardiovascular disease. They have a large number of stores across Glasgow; you can find your closest one here.
There are a number of ways you can donate your items to BHF, and they are well known for accepting furniture, going as far as to offer a free collection service for homewares, making things as simple as possible for you. You can also donate in-store, or you can post them using a freepost label – it couldn’t be simpler!
For a full list of items they accept, take a look here, and for those they cannot accept, click here.
Conclusion
We hope this blog has provided some food for thought when it comes to having a bit of a clear-out at home.
Donating to local charities is not only a great way to declutter and free up space in your home for items of clothing, toys or furniture you no longer use, all while helping to support really important causes.
To learn more about how self-storage with GTW Storage can help you, click here, or get in touch with our team.