Spring 2020Five reasons why you should spring clean for charity

With a growing awareness of the importance of cutting down on waste, improving your mental health, saving vital pennies and helping others, Michelle Kight explores some of the reasons why you should donate items that no longer appeal to you during your annual spring cleaning.

1. Decluttering is good for you

There is a reason that renowned organising consultant Marie Kondo asks people to  consider if an item ‘sparks joy’. If it doesn’t, does it really belong in your home, where it is taking up space?

Could you spark joy in others by passing an item on to someone who will love it?

Research by the UK Gift Card and Voucher  Association shows that around a third of  unwanted gifts are donated to charity and a further 20% are put away and forgotten about in people’s homes.

An estimated 23 million unwanted gifts will be sent to landfill after last Christmas.

Decluttering can also reduce stress: how often have you asked a family member to “do something” with an item which then gets left on a promise of ‘I will deal with it later’.

Research has shown that a clearer  environment also leads to a clearer mind, thus improving your mental health and you feel pretty accomplished too.

2. It’s good for the environment

Charity shops are a treasure chest of fantastic outfits and not only does your donation help a cause close to your heart, but it also curbs the tide of fast fashion, clothing which moves quickly from catwalk to stores in order to meet new trends.

Often cheap and disposable – ultimately ending up in landfill – fast fashion is not sustainable. The fashion industry produced more than 8% of man-made CO2 emissions in 2018, according to a report from Quantis. This gets even more damning when you consider that  according to the Ellen MacArthur Foundation the total greenhouse gas emissions produced annually (1.2 billion tons) from textiles are greater than those of all international flights and maritime shipping trips combined.

Last year alone, the British Heart Foundation saved over 74,000 tonnes of items from landfill, including clothes, shoes, toys and books, which helped prevent 53,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions from being released into the atmosphere. This included 15,000 tonnes of pre-loved clothes and an incredible 180,000 sofas – from just one charity. Additionally, the Charity Retail Association estimates each charity shop saves 29 tonnes of textiles from going into landfill each year.

Extend the lifecycle of your clothes (remember, they must be in good condition), donate them to charity, and even pick up a new outfit whilst you are at it – a sure-fire winner as you are getting a bargain, helping the charity and helping the planet. What’s not to love?

3. It keeps children entertained

A survey commissioned by the British Heart Foundation shows that nearly half of people (48%) find their little ones can get fed up with new items within just seven days, and, shockingly, nearly a quarter (24%) of parents have thrown away toys in perfect working order.

David Roman, Sustainability Manager at the British Heart Foundation, says: “Now more than ever, it is vital that we find ways to minimise waste and cut down on buying new items where possible. Second-hand toys are a great way to start.”

If your children no longer play with their current toys, consider donating their unloved ones to charity, and even bring home something new for a fraction of the retail price. Then, when it is time to pass things on again, you won’t have spent too much money only for your child to spend an afternoon playing with it before it gathers dust in the cupboard.

4. It saves you money

New toys and clothes can be on the pricey side, but you can often find new items in your local charity shops – donated because they simply were not wanted by the original recipient. This is not limited to just clothes and toys, almost any gift can be found second-hand or pre-loved.

Research by Mazuma Mobile found that 44% of Brits suspect they have been given a  pre-owned Christmas present in the past and 52% admitted they would be happy receiving pre-loved items.

Results showed that 85% of Brits now regularly purchase pre-owned instead of paying full cost for new item equivalents. From books and handbags, to higher value tech items such as computers and mobile phones, this can add up to a pretty saving.

Craig Smith from Mazuma Mobile says: “Many of us are simply happy to receive something we like, especially when it is better for the  environment and our wallets.”

5. You could help other people 

From the clothes that no longer fit and the shoes that you no longer wear, to the  accessories not to your taste, and the books you have already read, volunteers and shop staff can transform unwanted gifts into money for their chosen causes.

Many shops are dedicated to funding lifesaving research into illnesses and diseases, help hospices provide valuable end of life care, and even helping animals in need.

Money raised could help charities raise vital funds if donated and resold – and that really has to be the best thing your unwanted things can do.

Taking good quality items to a charity is a perfect sustainable solution for decluttering and passing on your unwanted items.

Charity retail ranges from clothing and  accessories, bric-a-brac, books, videos, DVDs and CDs, cutlery and household products.

Pet treats, toys and beds are also welcome at RSPCA charity shops.

If you want to avoid items ending up in landfill whilst supporting local shops, you can donate to over 40 charity shops and voluntary organisations within the Rochdale borough, such as Emmaus, Petrus, Reuse Littleborough, the RSPCA and Springhill Hospice.

Remember to donate items which are good quality (if you wouldn’t buy it, why would someone else?), and larger items, such as furniture, can sometimes be collected from your home for free by a driver for the charity, by prior arrangement.