I remember the overwhelming task of clearing out a family home after a relative passed away. The house was full of furniture, clothes, and memories that needed to be sorted, but the thought of organizing and clearing everything by ourselves felt impossible. That’s when I discovered that some charities offer house clearance services, where they help clear the home and put the items to good use by donating, recycling, or selling them to fund their charitable work.
If you’re downsizing, clearing out after a loved one, or simply looking to declutter in an eco-friendly way, donating to charities that provide house clearance services is an excellent option. These organizations not only help you clear out the space, but they also ensure that your unwanted items go toward supporting a good cause.
Here are some charities that offer house clearance services and how they operate.
1. British Heart Foundation (BHF)
The British Heart Foundation is one of the largest charities in the UK, and they offer a comprehensive house clearance service. They collect items such as furniture, electronics, clothing, and more, and sell them in their stores to raise money for life-saving heart research.
How it Works:
- Free service: BHF offers a free collection service for items that are in good, sellable condition.
- Full or partial clearance: They can assist with full house clearances or just pick up specific items.
- What they accept: Furniture, homeware, electrical items, clothing, books, and more.
- How to arrange: You can book a collection online or by calling your local BHF Furniture & Electrical store.
2. Cancer Research UK
Cancer Research UK offers a house clearance service that helps you declutter while supporting cancer research. Their clearance service is ideal if you have a large number of items, such as after a home move or bereavement.
How it Works:
- Free and paid options: They offer a free collection service for items that can be sold in their charity shops. For larger, full-house clearances, they partner with local clearance companies for a fee.
- Items they collect: Furniture, electronics, clothing, and homeware.
- Booking: You can book a free collection through their website, or contact your nearest Cancer Research shop for more details.
3. Sue Ryder
Sue Ryder is another charity that offers a house clearance service, with the proceeds supporting their palliative, neurological, and bereavement care. They are known for handling all types of clearances, from large houses to smaller flats.
How it Works:
- Full or part clearance: They handle both full-house clearances or can collect specific items.
- Two levels of service: They offer a Standard House Clearance for donations of saleable items, and a Premium House Clearance (which includes disposal of unsellable items) for a fee.
- What they accept: Furniture, homeware, books, clothing, and electrical goods.
- How to arrange: You can call them directly or use their online form to book a house clearance assessment.
4. Age UK
Age UK helps support older people through various programs and services, and they offer a house clearance service to help families declutter or downsize. The service is available through their local Age UK branches, with proceeds going to support their charity work.
How it Works:
- Free or paid options: They offer free collections for items that can be resold, or paid full clearance services for larger homes, which may involve a fee for disposal of unsellable items.
- Accepted items: Furniture, clothing, electronics, homeware, and collectibles.
- Booking: You can contact your local Age UK branch to find out more or book a collection via their website.
5. The Salvation Army
The Salvation Army provides house clearance services across many regions, particularly in the UK. The items they collect help fund their charitable work, including homeless shelters, rehabilitation programs, and emergency response services.
How it Works:
- Free collection: They offer a free collection service for items in good, sellable condition.
- House clearance options: They can assist with full or partial house clearances, depending on your needs.
- Accepted items: Furniture, clothing, books, electrical goods, and bric-a-brac.
- How to book: Contact your local Salvation Army branch or book online.
6. Marie Curie
Marie Curie provides support for people living with terminal illnesses and their families. They offer a house clearance service to help raise funds for their hospice and care services. Their team can clear everything from furniture and homeware to clothes and collectibles.
How it Works:
- Free service: For items that can be resold, they offer a free collection service.
- Full clearance: For larger clearances, they may charge a fee if there are unsellable items that need to be disposed of.
- What they collect: Furniture, homeware, books, clothing, and small electrical goods.
- How to arrange: You can contact them through their website or your local Marie Curie shop.
7. Greenhouse Charity
Greenhouse Charity offers a more niche house clearance service that focuses on recycling and reselling items to fund programs that support underprivileged communities. They prioritize eco-friendly practices and aim to reduce landfill waste through their work.
How it Works:
- Eco-conscious clearance: They recycle, resell, or donate all items cleared from homes.
- Full or partial clearance: You can request a full house clearance or specific item pick-ups.
- What they accept: Furniture, electronics, homeware, and recyclable materials.
- Booking: Contact them through their website to arrange a clearance or collection.
8. Oxfam
Oxfam provides a house clearance service, using the items donated to support their work fighting poverty around the world. They offer a full clearance service, and many Oxfam shops accept furniture, clothing, and homeware.
How it Works:
- Free collection: Oxfam offers a free collection for items that can be resold.
- House clearance options: You can opt for a full clearance service, or simply donate specific items.
- Accepted items: Furniture, electrical goods, clothing, books, and homeware.
- Booking: Contact your nearest Oxfam shop or arrange a collection via their website.
Summary Table: Charities That Offer House Clearance Services
| Charity | Service Type | What They Accept | Cost | How to Book |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| British Heart Foundation | Full or partial clearance | Furniture, electricals, clothing | Free (for sellable items) | Online or through local store |
| Cancer Research UK | Full clearance or collection | Furniture, homeware, clothing | Free for sellable items, fees for full clearance | Contact local shop or book online |
| Sue Ryder | Full and partial clearance | Furniture, clothing, electrical goods | Free or fee-based premium service | Contact via phone or online form |
| Age UK | Full and partial clearance | Furniture, homeware, collectibles | Free for sellable items, fees for larger clearances | Local branch or online |
| The Salvation Army | Full and partial clearance | Furniture, homeware, clothing | Free (for sellable items) | Contact local branch or online booking |
| Marie Curie | Full clearance or collection | Furniture, clothing, electricals | Free or fee-based service | Contact local shop or book online |
| Greenhouse Charity | Eco-friendly house clearance | Furniture, homeware, electronics | Usually free (based on items) | Contact through website |
| Oxfam | Full or partial clearance | Furniture, clothing, homeware | Free (for sellable items) | Contact local store or book online |
Choosing a charity for your house clearance is not only a practical solution for decluttering but also a way to give back to the community and support meaningful causes. Whether it’s raising money for heart research, cancer support, or environmental sustainability, your unwanted items can make a real difference!