Hospice issues appeal over unsuitable donations

A hospice has urged people to check their donations after unsuitable items were left at its shops during Christmas clear-outs.

Donations have increased to Beaumond House Hospice Care's six outlets across Nottinghamshire, but some bags it receives have included underwear and stained or damaged products, which cannot be sold.

The hospice, based in Newark, said it did benefit from the kindness of well-wishers during the festive period and added it was grateful for clothes, toys and bric-a-brac, which ensure funds keep coming in.

However, it is asking for people to sort through their things before donating, adding that bags placed outside its stores can constitute fly-tipping.

Simon Machin, the charity's director of income generation, said staff were "really appreciative of all the generosity" from the community after being "inundated" with donations, but said some items could not be used by the shops once they had been checked.

"Things for people to consider are making sure that items are clean [and] double-checking they are not damaged or broken, as we simply won't be able to put out on to the shop floor," he said.

"We've had a lovely shoe, a running trainer, which could have been sold if we had both, but unfortunately we only had one in the bag.

"We find trends that often in a bag there are a couple of items that can't be sold - items such as underwear, bras, and the odd item that might be damaged or broken, or potentially mouldy or stained.

"We do kindly ask that every now and again people check their donations."

Alison Walters, who manages Beaumond House's Balderton branch, said the charity was "extremely lucky" to get so many items brought in, with a bumper amount of toys, games and shoes being donated this week.

"We get donations all day, every day - a lot more toys at this time of year, which is great because obviously people are looking for toys," she said.

"We're never disappointed, we love all donations.

"They all have a use - maybe some have to go into recycling, which is not so brilliant, because we don't get so much money on those, but we never refuse anything.

"Sometimes we get a little gem [like] a named item or a designer item, so they're obviously bringing in good money, they're the things we look for - but everything is really useful."

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