Frequently Asked Questions

We accept a wide range of pre-loved items including:

• Clothes – ladies, men’s and childrenswear
• Shoes – men’s and ladies (sorry but we can’t sell children’s shoes)
• Accessories – bags, jewellery, purses, scarves
• Homeware – crockery, glassware, cutlery, cookware and utensils
• Bric-a-brac – ornaments, pictures, home decor
• Books – fiction and non-fiction
• Entertainment – CDs, DVDs, board games and puzzles
• Musical instruments
• Sports equipment – dumbbells, exercise equipment, bats and balls
• Collectables – antiques, stamp collections, cufflinks, watches, cameras, football programmes

Unfortunately, there are some types of donations we cannot accept at the moment:

• Large items of furniture
• White goods
• Medical equipment
• Broken toys
• Electrical items
• VHS Videos and cassettes

If you’re unsure, please give your local store a call before bringing in donations and we’d be happy to advise on what we can accept.

We appreciate all donations, but are particularly interested in high quality items that have been well looked after. We understand that, of course, pre-loved items come with snags and imperfections but do want to try and ensure that anything we accept as a donation can be sold. Anything that’s not suitable for sale will be passed to a rag merchant, making sure nothing is wasted.

Please “ring before you bring” and give your local store a call before dropping off donations. This helps us to manage stock safely and ensure we maintain hygiene and social distancing measures within the shop. Find the contact details for your local store using our store finder.
Find your local shop

If you would like to provide Gift Aid to us, first of all, thank you! You can increase the value of your donations by 25%, at no extra cost to you, if you’re a UK taxpayer. Our friendly team in-store will help you get set up to provide Gift Aid on your donations, or you can drop us an email at retail.giftaid@chss.org.uk if you have any questions. Learn more about Gift Aid by visiting the UK Government website.
Learn more about gift aid

Our Boutique stores offer a unique charity shopping experience, with stunning interiors, quirky design features and a reputation for high quality designer labels and one-of-a-kind vintage finds. If you’ve got an eye for fashion and want to pick up stylish pieces at bargain prices, our Boutiques across Scotland are the place to go. We also have a range of classic charity shops and discount stores across the country, full of amazing high street bargains at incredible prices.

Most of our shops are now open again following Covid-19 closures. Due to the ongoing situation, some of our stores may experience last-minute closures over the coming months. We’re sorry for any inconvenience this may cause. To find the most up-to-date details for your local shop, please give them a call or check the opening hours using our Store Finder.
Find your local shop

Most of our stores are open Monday 11am-4pm and Tuesday-Saturday 10am-5pm. This may vary for some shops. Please check our Store Finder to find out more about the opening hours of your local store.
Find your local shop

To keep our staff, volunteers and customers safe, there are a number of safety measures in all our shops, including:

• Restrictions on the number of people allowed in the store at any time to maintain social distancing. This number will be different for each store based on space.
• Customers are kindly asked to wear a face covering in our shops, unless exempt, as per Scottish Government guidance.
• Stores are cleaned on a daily basis and have spot checks three times a day to maintain high hygiene standards.
• All staff and volunteers are provided with face coverings and protective gloves.
• Hand sanitiser is available for customers to use.
• All till points have shield guards.
• Floor markers are in place in all stores for social distancing.

We accept both cash and card payments in out stores. The limit for contactless payments is £100.

Due to Covid-19 guidance, all staff and volunteers who process stock follow strict guidelines on how to do this safely. This includes washing before and regularly throughout processing, with hand sanitiser available. Gloves and masks are also provided during processing. All non-hanging items are cleaned with soap and water or antibacterial wipes as appropriate. Stock is carefully dated with dedicated sorting areas in stores to allow a safe processing system.

Most of our stores have changing rooms where you can try on clothes in-store. However due to current Covid-19 guidance, you may not be able to use the changing rooms. If you’re unsure, please check with our friendly team in your local store, or call ahead.

Yes, you can return goods to our charity shops. Please ensure you keep your receipt as proof of purchase.

If you are considering making a cash donation to the charity – firstly, thank you! It is possible to make a donation in the store, just speak to a member of staff or volunteer who will be able to help.

We couldn’t run our shops without our amazing volunteers, and we’d love to have you on board! We have a variety of retail volunteer roles available across Scotland. Check out the latest volunteering opportunities online, pop in to your local store and speak to the team or email us at volunteering@chss.org.uk to find out more. Alternatively, if you would prefer to donate online you can do so in just a few clicks.
View volunteer opportunities