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Five 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.
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.
REAL ROCHDALE - SPRING 2020
It keeps children entertained
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, accord-
ing 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?
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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.
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.”
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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.
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.
REAL ROCHDALE - SPRING 2020