Find Clothing Banks & Clothing Recycling Bins Near You in Cornwall

Clothes donation locations in Redruth, Falmouth, Truro, Saltash, and more

 

In Cornwall, there are several places where you can donate clothes. Here are some options:

  1. Cornwall Hospice Care:

    • Locations: Shops in towns like Truro, Penzance, St Austell, and Falmouth.
    • Focus: Provides end-of-life care and support to patients and their families across Cornwall.

  2. British Heart Foundation:

    • Locations: Shops in Truro, Newquay, and other towns.
    • Focus: Funds research and support for heart disease.

  3. St Petrocs:

    • Location: Based in Truro.
    • Focus: Supports homeless individuals in Cornwall. Donations, especially of warm clothing, are particularly valuable.

  4. Oxfam:

    • Locations: Shops in Falmouth, Truro, and St Ives.
    • Focus: Global poverty relief and development.

  5. Children’s Hospice South West:

    • Locations: Shops in towns like Newquay, St Austell, and Penzance.
    • Focus: Provides hospice care for children with life-limiting conditions.

  6. The Salvation Army:

    • Locations: Donation points in larger towns like Truro and Penzance.
    • Focus: Supports vulnerable individuals through a range of social services.

  7. Local Community Projects:

    • Locations: Check for local community initiatives in smaller towns and villages, where clothes are often collected for direct distribution to those in need.

These charities offer a variety of causes to support, ensuring that your donated clothes make a meaningful impact within Cornwall.

When you donate clothes in Cornwall, they typically go through the following process:

  1. Collection and Sorting:

    • Initial Sorting: Upon arrival at charity shops or donation centers, clothes are sorted by condition, type, and suitability for resale or direct distribution. Volunteers or staff at organizations like Cornwall Hospice Care or British Heart Foundation handle this process.

  2. Resale in Charity Shops:

    • Good Condition Items: Clothes that are in good condition are cleaned if necessary and then priced for sale in charity shops across Cornwall. The proceeds from these sales support the charity’s specific cause, such as hospice care, heart disease research, or children’s services.

  3. Direct Distribution:

    • Local Need: Some clothes, especially those donated to organizations like St Petrocs, may be distributed directly to people in need, particularly the homeless. These items are often given out for free, especially warm clothing and essentials.

  4. Recycling:

    • Unsellable Clothes: Clothes that aren’t suitable for resale or direct use might be sent to recycling facilities. These items are often repurposed into new products, such as insulation materials, industrial rags, or even new textiles.

  5. Export to Developing Countries:

    • Surplus and Bulk Donations: Some charities may sell surplus clothes in bulk to textile merchants, who then export these items to developing countries where they are sold in local markets.

  6. Upcycling and Repurposing:

    • Creative Reuse: Some donated items may be upcycled into new products, such as bags or quilts, by local artisans or through partnerships with sustainable fashion projects.

This process ensures that donated clothes in Cornwall are used effectively, whether they support local communities, fund charitable work, or contribute to sustainability through recycling and upcycling.

In Cornwall, the following organizations would make excellent use of your donated clothes, depending on the cause you wish to support:

  1. Cornwall Hospice Care:

    • Best Use: Your clothes will be sold in their shops across Cornwall, with proceeds supporting hospice care for patients with life-limiting illnesses. This charity directly benefits the local community.

  2. St Petrocs:

    • Best Use: St Petrocs helps homeless individuals in Cornwall. Donated clothes, especially warm items like coats and blankets, are distributed directly to those in need, providing immediate relief.

  3. Children’s Hospice South West:

    • Best Use: Proceeds from the sale of your donated clothes in their shops support hospice care for children with life-limiting conditions, helping families in Cornwall and the surrounding regions.

  4. British Heart Foundation:

    • Best Use: Your donations fund vital research into heart disease. The charity sells donated clothes in their shops across Cornwall, with proceeds supporting nationwide and local initiatives.

  5. The Salvation Army:

    • Best Use: Donated clothes are used to support a variety of social services, including assistance for the homeless, elderly, and those struggling with addiction. The Salvation Army’s presence in Cornwall ensures that your clothes help those in need locally.

These organizations would make excellent use of your clothes, whether by directly helping vulnerable people in Cornwall or by supporting broader charitable missions.

Find one on the map

List of Cornwall Clothes Bank Locations

Cornwall calls the UK’s southernmost area home, but although the lowest point, it has some of the highest rates of clothing donations in the country.  You’ll find clothes banks in many of the major towns including Redruth, Falmouth, Truro, Saltash, and more.

As their name suggests, the clothes banks around the area will accept different types of clothing including t-shirts, shoes, pants, shorts, jackets, and more. If you’re looking to donate other items such as homewares, appliances, linen, or something else, please give them a call beforehand to check.

Some of the largest organisations accepting clothing donations in Cornwall are The Salvation Army and the Fire Fighters Charity. Both are long-running organisations with a fantastic reputation, meaning your clothes are always going to be put to good use.

But please remember, only donate clothes that are in usable condition. Charities spend millions throwing out unusable clothes every year.

If you know any clothes banks near you in Cornwall that aren’t listed below, please let us know and we’ll add them to the list.