If not charity shops, then where?

[TakeTheLowRoad]

Where I live, there are quite a few charity shops. I reckon there are 10.

I very rarely sell things, and often just pass them onto the charity shop.

So, yesterday I took 10 books out with me. They are young reading books, unused or very lightly used. Some very current novels, just out and just read. Excellent condition. I went to 5 charity shops where I was asked/ told; "what are they?", "we don't need books", "we have enough stuff already" and "we are not taking any more things". It is not just books either, I've taken other things and been turned away. The Dogs Trust told me they only take books about dogs.

I kind of understand, but if they don't want them, where else can I donate to? Are there any schools/ organisations that I can pass them on to? What about clothes?

I know that the country is suffering a huge rise in food prices and lots of people are struggling, but I hope it does not come to this

I put stuff outside my house with a 'free, please take sign'. Most stuff goes pretty quickly.

🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

World of books?

We have a telephone box library near us, maybe search for one if those, also I've seen cabinets in play areas and parks, might need a Google though

We have a local clothes exchange that is very heavily utilised!

This is part of my problem with clutter. If you 'just put it in the charity bin/bag' it'll most likely end up as rags/recycled waste rather than being reused for what it is.

But selling and giving away is time consuming.

There's someone in my village who will take anything (in bulk) and if its saleable he will fb/ebay/carboot. That's excellent. I've also had plenty of responses advertising a 'car boot sale box of stuff'.

Kids books will go well on free cycle or your local free FB page, I always say I'll leave them out in a plastic bag so I don't need to be waiting in.

Two supermarkets and a building society in our town have a book swapping shelf. I think one is free, one asks for a very small donation to a local charity.

In a village nearby the phone box has become a mini book and toy library. I've seen surplus fruit and veg left there too.

I use Olio for this sort of thing - I don't know if they have it across the country?

I was going to suggest this too. It’s where I donate all my books (and get lots of new ones)

Little Free Libraries

Charity Shops have not taken books for a whilr now.So many people are on the Internet,dont have time to read etc.My friend who managed a Charity shop said there just isnt the room to take them.They can stay there for ages .Try and put outside your house if you can,may get some interest there .

Children's hospital departments or Gp waiting rooms might want them?

My local village hall, local church and village post office all have a free library of donated books in the foyer. You can just drop them off. Also Tesco just after the tills (where you pack your bags) have a similar book donation/library think where you can make a donation.

Local supermarkets seem to all have a book table with a charity collection tin. Morrisons and Tescos anyway.

Bookcrossing

Our Sainsbury's has a bookcase where you can leave second hand books.

In my area there are several mini libraries where you can leave books and pick up another one .They're just boxes/ cabinets mounted on a wall. I've seen some in residential streets and even one in the local churchyard.
It's also popular to place unwanted items outside your house with a sign saying items are free please take what you like.Ive picked up a couple of good cookery books this way.

There is a book bank at our local tip. Unfortunately books are really hard to get rid of and there are always too many of them.

Another idea is to offer for free on local Facebook groups.

Some charities have specific charity bookshops, the ones in my local city are very popular. Or are there are used book shops in your area? The used book shops round here are always very busy.

Playgroups or lower schools might take them. Or advertise them on Freegle?

As long as it's not raining then just leave them outside your house and people will take them.

Children's books I've always donated to our local school. Other books I've taken to our local library thinking they would pick through any they wanted, but they were happy to take the lot, and asked permission to send on any they couldn't use to specialist libraries instead.

I’m with the people advising you to donate to the local schools. They are generally very pleased with them, especially smaller village schools.

Where I lived last year, SW, the local parish centre has a book “swap” I asked if I can donate instead swapping and they said to just a few books.

Same in the local Tesco.