# Handy location the top reason for choosing to give to one charity shop over another

- Link: https://fundraising.co.uk/2024/08/13/handy-location-the-top-reason-for-choosing-to-give-to-one-charity-shop-over-another/
- Published: 2024-08-13T14:41:29+01:00
- Author: Melanie May

**84% of people donate regularly to charity shops, with handiness of location the
top reason for choosing one over another.**

64% of people said location was important, followed by supporting a charity (59%),
good parking (45%) and shop experience (33%). 

The figures come from Donation Nation, a new report from [Shelter](https://www.shelter.org.uk/)
based on canvassing of 2,000 people across Britain.

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Shelter also found that donating to charity shops is more popular than selling unwanted
items online. While 84% said they donate regularly in this way, 41% said they sell
unwanted items on sites like Vinted, eBay or Facebook Marketplace.

#### Baby Boomers give most often

15% donate items once a month or more, and women are more likely to give than men,
with 24% of women compared to 15% of men donating every three months. People aged
45+ are the most frequent donors, with 42% giving every three months or more. 

Baby Boomers were the most prolific givers, with 94% of 55+ respondents saying donating
is one of the ways they deal with unwanted items. Younger people are more likely
to resell on online platforms, at 54% of 18-24-year-olds, compared to 29% of those
aged 55+.

**Supporting a good cause most important reason for giving**

Supporting a good cause is important for 80% of those asked, with decluttering second(
71%), followed by wanting to do their bit for the environment at 69%.

75% said they decluttered and dropped off whenever they felt the need, followed 
by 46% who made a trip to the charity shop following a spring clean. Moving house
was the right time to donate for one in three (32%), followed by making room for
Christmas presents (16%). Kids heading back to school or leaving for university 
motivated 7% of those asked.   

Commenting, Shelter’s David Cryer, Assistant Director of Retail, said:

> “Our charity shops are a really important part of our work, in terms of fundraising
> and engagement, and we are always keen to understand more about donating habits
> and how these have evolved over time.
>  
> “The last five years have presented some serious challenges, so it’s amazing to
> see how committed people are to donating with such frequency – especially in an
> age where selling online is popular – and to supporting the individual charities
> and campaigns that mean the most to them.”

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