What types of goods do you take in your shops?

We look for

  • good quality men’s and women’s clothing and shoes
  • good quality furniture
  • children’s clothing, toys and games
  • books and multimedia like DVDs, CDs and vinyl
  • accessories, non-pierced jewellery, belts, handbags
  • bric-a-brac, crockery, glassware, bakeware, household linen and ornaments
  • unwanted gifts

Unfortunately, there are certain items we cannot accept. Please check our list here.

If you want to check any items with us, please call us on 01253 395822.

How can I find my closest charity shop?

Just go to Charity shops near me

Are you able to collect big or bulky items?

Yes we have vans that can come to you to collect goods. Please call us on 01253 395822 to arrange a collection or use our online form.

How can I make my donation worth 25% more?

Gift Aid it! Gift Aid is a scheme that allows charities to reclaim tax on a donation made by a UK taxpayer. This means your donations will be worth 25% more to us at no extra cost to you.

If you Gift Aid your donations we can claim back from the Government 25p for every £1 of goods you donate.

Just ask in store for more information.

How can a charity like Trinity afford shop premises?

Some of our shops are actually gifts-in-kind, generously given to us rent free by supporters. It means that our running costs can be kept extremely low. We have some paid shop managers, but most of the people you see working in our shops are our wonderful volunteers.

Why spend so much on your shops to make them look nice?

The answer is simple – by investing to make our shops look good, we make more money in the long term. Shoppers like modern environments and expect charity shops to be clean and well maintained. Attractive shop fronts entice people through the door, so it’s worth us investing because in everything we do, projecting a professional image is important to us. Our shop signs are being replaced to reflect our new brand, but also to comply with the local councils' safety policies.

Charities are spoiling the High Street!

We hear this a lot, but the statistics show that traditional High Streets are under most threat from internet shopping and high business rates; not charity shops. We are always sympathetic to the needs of the community, strive to be good neighbours and try to add to the experience of local shopping, not detract from it.

Why not stick to other types of fundraising?

We raise money in many ways but our shops are a vital source of income. It costs almost £8 million a year to run all Trinity’s services and only about a third of that comes from the Government. Our retail team brings in a massive £400,000 a year, which helps keep hospice care completely free of charge for adults and children in Blackpool, Fylde and Wyre.

Is there another way I can contact the retail team?

If you can't find what you're looking for on our website with regards to retail, you can call us on 01253 395822 or send us a message on our Trinity Retail Facebook page. Please note that this number is for our Donation Centre and may not be answered if you're calling outside of its opening hours.

 


"I really enjoy checking, sorting and pricing the goods for sale"

Read Valda's story