Getting ready to Spring clean? Consider making a donation to Age UK Chichester

As well as getting homes clean and tidy, donating to Age UK’s charity shops is a great way of recycling unwanted items and reducing waste. Since January donations to the Charity’s shops have saved 492,552 kilos going into landfill and saved 4,602,499 kilos of Co2.

But as we clear out our cupboards, Age UK is urging people not to forget that for many older people, there is still a Crisis hiding in plain sight, even as the weather brightens. Warmer days don’t ease the pressures of rising bills, declining health or deep‑rooted loneliness, and millions of older people continue to face ongoing challenges behind closed doors.

Recent research from Age UK found that 1.2 million people aged over 65 say they have no one to turn to. That’s why donations to Age UK shops are so important. Money raised from Age UK’s charity shops goes towards supporting the Charity’s vital services, including the Telephone Friendship Service, free and confidential Advice Line and The Silver Line Helpline – services that older people rely on not just in winter, but throughout the entire year.

Every bag of items donated helps to raise much-needed funds to support older people across the country. The average bag of donations can be sold to raise around £15 – that’s enough to fund a weekly telephone friendship call to a lonely older person.

Kathy, Shop Manager at the Age UK Chichester shop, said, “It takes a community to keep our Age UK shops raising much-needed funds to support older people and we simply couldn’t provide all that we do without supporters like you. But every bag of donations matters. We’re always looking for donations of clothes, shoes, bags, accessories, homeware, and books.If your wardrobe’s crying out for a declutter, make it a win-win by donating what you no longer need to help a great cause. Not only will you be helping to reduce waste and landfill, but you’ll be helping raise vital funds for Age UK so that it can continue supporting older people. By giving your stuff, you really can help us change lives.”

Locals can also support Age UK by choosing from a range of pre-loved clothing, accessories, toys, books and homeware, available in the Age UK Chichester shop. Age UK hopes to encourage more people to shop sustainably and has created a list of tips to help get people started.

When donating items, the Age UK Chichester shop is also encouraging people to make their donations worth an extra 25% for the Charity by signing up to Gift Aid. Simply filling out a basic form when dropping off donations means Age UK will receive an extra 25p from the government for every £1 that is raised from your donated goods.

Age UK has over 250 shops across England and Wales. To find your nearest Age UK shop visit: www.ageuk.org.uk/shops Shoppers can also pick up items via Age UK’s eBay page www.ebay.co.uk/ageuk

To find out more about Age UK’s Crisis hiding in plain sight campaign and other ways to donate visit: www.ageuk.org.uk/appeal.