When you donate clean, good-quality items that someone else would be happy to buy, you’re helping us raise vital funds to care for vulnerable animals across Devon.
But times have changed.
The cost of disposing of unwanted and unsaleable items has increased dramatically, and changes to the textile recycling industry mean many items that charities could once recycle now cost money to dispose of instead.
That’s money that could have been spent caring for animals.
Our Donate with Love campaign is all about helping every donation make the biggest possible difference.
By donating thoughtfully, you can help us:
Together, we can care for animals and care for our environment.
Our seven charity shops generate around half of the income needed to care for the animals at RSPCA Little Valley. Every quality donation sold in our shops helps provide food, veterinary care, shelter and rehabilitation for animals who need us most. By donating thoughtfully, you’re helping every item make a real difference.
We’re passionate about giving donated items a second life wherever we can. However, changes to the textile recycling industry and increasing disposal costs mean some unsuitable donations now cost the charity money to dispose of. They also take valuable volunteer time to sort. Our aim isn’t to refuse donations – it’s to reduce waste, protect the environment and make sure every donation has the greatest possible impact for the animals in our care.
👕 Clean, freshly laundered clothing with no stains, tears, missing buttons or broken zips.
👟 Good quality footwear that’s clean, wearable and with plenty of life left.
👜 Handbags, belts, scarves and fashion accessories in excellent condition.
💎 Jewellery, watches and costume jewellery that is complete and in working order where applicable.
📚 Books, jigsaw puzzles and games that are clean, complete and undamaged.
☕ Quality homeware and bric-a-brac including kitchenware, ornaments and decorative items in good condition.
🔌 Working electrical items with plugs, leads and accessories where appropriate (PAT tested by us before sale).
🧸 Children’s toys and baby items that are clean, safe, complete and in full working order.
🐾 Pet accessories such as beds, bowls, leads, carriers and unopened pet supplies in excellent condition.
👕 Damaged clothing with large tears, excessive wear, mould or strong odours.
💧 Wet, damp or contaminated items, as these can quickly spoil other donations.
🐜 Items affected by mould, mildew, pests or pet fouling, which pose health and safety risks.
🔌 Broken or unsafe electrical items that cannot be safely tested or repaired.
📦 Incomplete games, puzzles or toys with missing pieces or parts.
🍾 Broken crockery, glassware or household items that could cause injury.
🧴 Opened toiletries, cosmetics or personal care products for hygiene reasons.
🛏️ Used mattresses, duvets and pillows, unless new and sealed where applicable.
⚠️ Items that are unsafe, illegal to sell or recalled, or anything that could put customers, volunteers or staff at risk.
🚫 Items which have been tested on animals, real fur, ivory or skins.
Not sure if something is suitable? Just ask a member of our team before donating -we’re always happy to help.
Not everything needs to be perfect to make a difference. Our Perfectly Imperfect range gives good-quality items with minor cosmetic flaws a second chance to be loved again, helping us reduce waste and raise even more money for the animals in our care.
Rather than sending these items for recycling or disposal, we carefully check them, clearly highlight any minor imperfections and offer them at a reduced price. It could be a missing button, a loose hem, a small scratch or another minor defect that doesn’t affect the item’s usefulness.
By choosing a Perfectly Imperfect item, you’re helping us keep more donations out of landfill, reduce unnecessary waste and make sure every possible donation has the opportunity to support vulnerable animals. After all, just like the animals we care for, every item deserves a second chance.
We can only sell clothing that’s clean and in good condition. Heavily damaged, stained or worn-out clothing often can’t be resold and may cost the charity money to dispose of. If you’re unsure, ask yourself: Would I happily give this to a friend?
The textile recycling industry has changed significantly in recent years. Many items that charities could once recycle now have little or no value, and in some cases actually cost money to dispose of. That’s why donating good-quality, saleable items is more important than ever.
At the moment, we don’t accept furniture donations. Our charity shops aren’t set up to store, collect or sell larger items safely, so we’ve chosen to focus on the donations we can process quickly and efficiently. This helps us make the best use of our shop space, volunteer time and resources, ensuring every donation has the greatest possible impact for the animals in our care.
Absolutely. We gladly accept working electrical items in good condition. Before they’re sold, all electrical items are safety checked and PAT tested by our trained team to ensure they’re safe for customers.
Yes! If you’re a UK taxpayer, Gift Aid allows us to claim an extra 25p for every £1 raised from the sale of your donated goods, at no extra cost to you. Simply speak to a member of staff in-store when you donate. Find out more about gift aid here.
Please don’t. Donations left outside can become wet, damaged or contaminated and may no longer be suitable for sale. If the shop is closed, please bring your donations back during opening hours so we can make the best use of them.
We always try to give every donation the best possible chance of finding a new home. Items in excellent condition are sold in our charity shops, while more unusual, collectible or higher-value items may be listed on our eBay and Vinted stores, where they can reach buyers across the UK.
Some items with minor cosmetic flaws may become part of our Perfectly Imperfect range, giving them a second chance instead of going to waste.
If an item is unsuitable for resale or reuse, we’ll recycle it responsibly wherever possible. Unfortunately, changes to the recycling industry mean some items can no longer be recycled and have to be disposed of, which is why donating quality items is so important.
The easiest way is to donate items that are clean, complete, in good working order and ready for someone else to enjoy. Every quality donation helps us reduce waste, protect the environment and raise vital funds for the animals in our care.
Please don’t take it personally. Our staff and volunteers never enjoy turning away a donation, but sometimes it’s the right thing to do.
There may be occasions when our stockrooms are full, or we simply don’t have enough space to safely accept any more donations. Accepting more than we can process can create health and safety risks, block fire exits and make it difficult for our teams to work safely.
Every donation also needs to be sorted, quality checked, steamed, priced and displayed before it can be sold. If we accept more than we can manage, it slows this process down and means fewer items reach our shelves. Unsaleable items also need to be stored separately until they can be collected for recycling or disposal, taking up valuable space that could be used for saleable donations.
Our teams will always do their best to help and may suggest visiting another of our charity shops or returning at a quieter time. If an item isn’t suitable for donation, we encourage you to use your local household recycling centre, textile recycling bank or your council’s kerbside recycling service where available. Please visit this link for more information.
Above all, please remember that our staff and volunteers are simply doing their job and trying to make the best use of every donation. We ask that everyone treats them with the kindness and respect they deserve.
