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Support kids at Christmas – a quick guide to donating old books, comics and toys to charities

By John Freeman on October 13, 2024

Food for thought, downthetubes readers … charity shops are urging people to clear out their children’s old toys and books in the lead up to Christmas, rather than after. In the days before Christmas, a number of parents go looking for toys for their little ones who might be strapped for cash.

Charity shop volunteers say there is very rarely anything in just before Christmas, but that they get inundated with toys in the days after.

So, if you know your child is going to get lots of presents from Santa this year, by clearing out your cupboards a few days early, you could make another child’s Christmas a lot more special too.

Simply put the toys or books (or comics!) in a bag or box and take them to your local charity shop. Don’t leave them outside if the shop is shut, though – they might mistakenly get considered waste, for example!

It’s also worth checking if a particular charity want toy or book donations. Some smaller charities sometimes get inundated with donations, preventing acceptance. Some local charities might accept certain donations, such as books, in one shop, but not in others. (Unsold books, after time, are sold as pulp, providing there is demand).

Some charities, such as Oxfam, have a service enabling you to donate items by post for free.

If you’re thinking of donating toys to your local children’s hospital, be aware most cannot accept used or secondhand toys due to the high standards of infection control. It’s worth checking your local children’s hospital website for their specific policies.

Plus, don’t forget, in Britain the Gift Aid scheme for UK taxpayers can help charities raise an extra 25% on the value of your donation by reclaiming government basic rate tax. You can help charities get the most of your donation by signing up online, or in person when you donate.

Here are some useful links about donating toys to charity…

• Toys 4 Life is dedicated to the re-use and recycling of unwanted plastic toys, all year round

Toys 4 Life offer a wide range of solutions to make it as easy as possible for people to donate toys

• The Toy Project

The TOY Project was founded in 2013 by Jane Garfield and Angela Donovan. Through her role as a primary school teacher, Jane could see how some children had more toys than others and how schools needed resources but had little funds for sourcing them. It was through this that she began collecting unwanted toys that she could then distribute to those most in need

• UK Government Gift Aid Scheme

• Anglo Doorstep Collections

Anglo Doorstep Collections is a UK based company that collects charity donations of unwanted clothing and small household items, direct from our customers’ homes. Their collection service is free, efficient and you get to select a charity to support

Some UK Charities with Specific Toy Donations Guides

Please note, this is not a comprehensive list, and does not include local charities – visit your favourite charity shop and ask volunteers what they accept

• Air Ambulance

If you have unwanted toys and games gathering dust in a cupboard, did you know these could help raise vital funds for The Air Ambulance Service?

• Alder Hey Hospital

Toy donations are a lovely way to contribute towards Alder Hey Children’s Charity as they not only help to put a smile on the faces of the children in our care, but they can also boost morale and brighten up the children’s wards – something that is reassuring for their families. See their FAQs for further information about donations – do note

• Barnado’s (Find a store link)

Barnado’s accept toy donations to distribute to children in their care or sell in their charity shops. Donations can be made by visiting one of their shops

• British Heart Foundation

From clothes and accessories to books, toys and more, we need your unwanted items to help fund BHF life saving research. With handy drop points at every shop and safety measures in place, donating your unwanted items couldn’t be easier

• British Red Cross

Grateful for your preloved clothes, toys, books, furniture and other donations

• Great Ormond Street Hospital Charity

Has a list of in-demand toys and information about what they can and cannot accept on its website.

• Loved Before London

Accept all donations of teddy bears and other soft toys. No matter if it’s an old bear, a handmade friend or a new branded toy, there is a place for everyone at Loved Before.

• Oxfam: Donating Toys and Games

Donating toys and games to Oxfam helps fund our vital work fighting poverty worldwide. Find out where to donate toys, what kinds of toys and games you can donate, and what happens to your donations using their Store Finder

• Salvation Army Christmas Present Appeal

Across the UK, numerous Salvation Army churches and centres are organising a Christmas Present Appeal, aiming to gather donated gifts until mid-December. By contributing, you can assist us in spreading Christmas cheer to families whose children may not otherwise receive a present. Due to the cost of living crisis, they anticipate an increase in the number of families seeking aid this year.

• The Teddy Trust

The Teddy Trust collects teddy bears from children around the UK and sends them to children who are suffering the traumas of war, starvation or abuse. Through the Teddy Trust a child in the UK can learn about the suffering of children around the world, and learn how they can help with the simple donation of a much-loved teddy bear.

About the Author
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John Freeman

John is the founder of downthetubes, launched in 1998. He is a comics and magazine editor, writer, and Press Officer for the Lakes International Comic Art Festival. He also runs Crucible Comic Press.

Working in British comics publishing since the 1980s, his credits include editor of titles such as Doctor Who Magazine and Overkill for Marvel UK, Babylon 5 Magazine, Star Trek Magazine, and its successor, Star Trek Explorer, and more. He also edited the comics anthology STRIP Magazine and edited several audio comics for ROK Comics; and has edited several comic collections and graphic novels, including volumes of “Charley’s War” and “Dan Dare”, and Hancock: The Lad Himself, by Stephen Walsh and Keith Page.

He’s the writer of comics such as Pilgrim: Secrets and Lies for B7 Comics; “Crucible”, a creator-owned project with 2000AD artist Smuzz; and “Death Duty” and “Skow Dogs”, with Dave Hailwood.