# Charity calls for unwanted Christmas gifts to support its healthcare services

- Link: https://fundraising.co.uk/2012/01/15/charity-calls-unwanted-christmas-gifts-support-its-healthcare-services/
- Published: 2012-01-15T11:47:47+00:00
- Author: Howard Lake

![](https://www.fundraising.co.uk/files/images/newswire/Sue Ryder - donate your 
unwanted gifts.JPG)

National health and social care charity Sue Ryder is encouraging people to donate
any unwanted clothes, books, jewellery, bric-a-brac or furniture including Christmas
gifts to its 370 charity shops across the country.

All money raised from the sale of donated items goes directly to support the charity
to continue providing end of life and long-term care to people living with complex
care and support needs at its hospices, neurological care centres and community-
based services across the U.K.

Helen Reynolds, donated Group Stock Manager at Sue Ryder, commented: “Often after
the festive season, people decide to clear out their wardrobes to make space for
new items bought during the sales season and to throw away what is no longer used.
Every extra penny we are able to raise for Sue Ryder means extra help we can provide
for people living with complex care and support needs”.

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eBay estimates £652 million is spent on unwanted gifts over the festive season.*
A new survey for online classifieds website Gumtree.com found that every UK adult
will have been given up to two presents they did not want this Christmas, each worth
£48.41 on average.

Helen added: “We are encouraging people to donate their unwanted gifts instead of
hiding them at the back of their wardrobe or throwing them away. Sue Ryder provides
end of life and long-term care to people living with conditions including cancer,
stroke, Multiple Sclerosis and dementia. If we look at our hospices, for example,
their services are free to the point of delivery. But we need to raise more than
60% in voluntary income to continue to provide those services for local communities.
The extra money raised through our charity’s shops is a means to help the charity
raise much needed funds”.

To support Sue Ryder, people can simply drop off any unwanted items at any Sue Ryder
shop – and are encouraged to ask to gift aid them to add an extra 25% to the total
sale value of the goods. People can also become a gift aid member online and can
find out where their local shop is by visiting www.sueryder.org or calling 0207 
554 5900

Sources: *Study conducted by TNS omnibus on behalf of eBay http://www.tns-ri.co.
uk/_assets/files/16563_On_the_buses_email_pdf.pdf

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