Donating Goods
Goods from all sources are very welcome whether they come in carrier bags or lorry loads.
If you need them to be collected, please ring Carole or Sandra on 0115 9390 999 and leave a message. If you are able to collect in your area and hold goods for us, please tell Carole and Sandra – they will be very pleased!
We run a system of textile banks along with Savanna International, our current contractor, and you can have one if you wish. Currently our banks are situated in these locations.
Large amounts of goods from manufacturers, warehouses or shops can be collected by an arrangement we have with a number of local hauliers.
We can cope with any amount of goods because of a long established good relationship with warehouses and various friends and contacts locally and across the UK. We accept clothing, shoes, bedding, toiletries and cleaning materials, useful articles such as garden and workshop tools.
We try to service schools, hospitals and health centres abroad with whatever they need.
We are always careful not to send inappropriate goods, or too many of the same article, and will stagger our distribution to suit. If at all possible, we canvass 12 months in advance to ensure the cargo matches the need.
A schedule and photographs of the distribution follow delivery and we have learned not to deliver to anyone who cannot prove a fair distribution system.
Packing days
Our packing days are always scheduled for the first weekend of the month – and there is always plenty to do! We’ll arrange them at other times to suit you if you can guarantee at least six people attend. It is ideal for team-building exercises for scouts or guides, and has counted towards community service awards for D of E.
We have warehouses at Crown Farm, Mansfield; Castle Park, Nottingham; Cold Bath Road Harrogate; and Bowbridge Road, Newark. We’re anxious to open warehouses in other places around the country; do get in touch if you can help!
Some Womens’ Institutes and Rotary Clubs have held their regular meetings at our sites and pack boxes or sort clothes and cook a barbecue!
These are always good days with a great atmosphere and sense of achievement – come if you can!
Volunteering
Our volunteers are drawn from all walks of life – there’s no need to have a police background or connection. There is no age limit and something for everybody to do – whatever you skill or strength – including a lot of working from home by helping to keep our admin functioning, or just keeping in touch with people.
There are some formal ”job descriptions” in the volunteering section if you need to know about the gaps we particularly need to fill.