Households across central and southwest London are being asked to donate any unwanted Christmas gifts or good quality preloved clothing to their nearest Royal Trinity Hospice charity shop to ensure their shops remain stocked after Christmas.

Royal Trinity Hospice's 21 charity shops rely on selling donated goods to help raise the additional £11 million needed annually to supplement NHS funding to provide free end of life and palliative care.

Royal Trinity Hospice shops offer an eclectic mix of preloved women’s wear, men’s wear, shoes, bags, accessories, small gifts and unique pieces of homeware which sit alongside unique designer pieces, many donated by the 200 brand partners who currently support the hospice.

With the excitement of Christmas now fading, the charity hopes that people sorting through their gifts or having a new year clear-out may decide items not to their liking or that they no longer use would be better off destined for Trinity. Sales of preloved goods have been exceptionally strong in recent months with people looking for bargains and more people valuing sustainable and circular-fashion.  

The charity hopes people will support the winter stock drive by donating good quality women’s wear, in particular tops, dresses, coats and jackets, as well as men’s wear which typically sees lower donation levels, despite high customer demand.  

Nicola Jibson, Merchandise Manager from Royal Trinity Hospice hopes people will reconsider gifts they can afford to pass on or clothing they no longer want.

“After Christmas we can sometimes end up with more gifts than we had expected, or perhaps may never intend to use. Sometimes we have been given new items of clothing which replace others already in our wardrobe. Rather than putting unwanted Christmas gifts away into the backs of cupboards we are asking people instead to bag them up and bring them into our shops instead.

We particularly welcome gifts, fashion and accessories that are new or still in their packaging, alongside unwanted preloved items. Our shops pride themselves on being London’s answer to sustainable fashion, helping to rehome thousands of good quality items every week.”

Last year Royal Trinity Hospice shops sold over 350,000 donated items. Donated preloved women’s shoes and men’s coats raised over half a million pounds between them alone.

People can donate in any one of Royal Trinity Hospice’s charity shops, or alternatively arrange a home collection. 

Royal Trinity Hospice cares for around 2,500 people a year in its inpatient unit on Clapham Common and across the community in patients' homes, supporting them and those they love with a range of specialist support services, all provided for free.