Hospice donations make over £2 million for two charities

Two hospice store chains said they are successfully converting donations into contributions towards the care of patients. This is despite MPs' concerns that the popularity of cheap clothing nationally is forcing some charity shops to send poor quality items to the tip.

Ross Henderson, head of retail at Shropshire's Severn Hospice, said: “Anyone who makes a donation to our shops can be confident that we put as much work into turning their gift into care as they have put thought into choosing us to support.

“We are able to convert more than 90 per cent of donations to our shops into contributions to the care our clinical teams provide for families living with an incurable illness – last year that amounted to over £1m.

“If we can’t sell something through our shops this will be because of its condition or its quality for re-sale.

“Anything like this is recycled or reused by our recycling partners, for which we receive a payment. I am proud to say that there is only a tiny amount of ‘waste’ generated by our shops, which includes typical office waste like teabags and so on, and even this would go through a trade waste disposal process, not directly to landfill.

“In the case of clothing specifically, that means we are able to convert more than 99.9 per cent of donations through the front door into contribution to care in some way.”

Hamish Shilliday, director of income generation at Compton Care, said: “We welcome donations of pre-loved items including clothing, books, bric-a-brac and toys which are then sold in each of our 30 stores across Wolverhampton and the Black Country.

“We always look to maximise on the value of items kindly given to us. Any items that do not sell in our shops are moved to our clearance stores where shoppers can pick up a bargain. We work with a company who support us to recycle those items that do not sell in return for a profit for Compton Care. In doing so we are able to maximise every donation that we receive rather than ending up in landfill or at an incineration plant.

“We are incredibly grateful for the kindness and dedication of our supporters who year on year continue to purchase items from our stores as well as offer donations to ensure local care for local people.

“Thanks to them our shops raise more than £1m each year which goes towards supporting patients and their families living with complex and incurable conditions.”

Recycling charity Textile Reuse and International Development (Traid) recently told the House of Commons environmental audit committee that only a fraction of clothing earmarked for charity shops were acceptable for redistribution due to the effects so-called "fast fashion".

Severn Hospice shops in Shropshire and Mid Wales:

• Bayston Hill

• Bishop’s Castle

• Bridgnorth

• Brooklands, Wellington

• Church Stretton

• Cleobury Mortimer

• Craven Arms

• Ellesmere

• Ironbridge

• Lawley

• Llanidloes

• Ludlow

• Machynlleth

• Madeley

• Newport

• Oakengates

• Oswestry

• Shifnal

• Shrewsbury Furniture Store

• Shrewsbury Mardol

• Shrewsbury Superstore

• Shrewsbury Wyle Cop

• Wellington

• Welshpool

• Wem

• Whitchurch

Compton Care shops in Shropshire:

• Albrighton

• Shifnal