If you have old baby clothes you no longer need...

[CaveMum]

Ok not really an AIBU, but if you do have baby clothes you no longer need (or any children's clothes in good condition) please consider giving them to your local women's refuge.

I know it's so easy to just take them to you local charity shop, or put them out for one of those door to door charity collections, but a donation to a women's refuge can make a real difference straight away.

I'm lucky that I've never had the need to use a refuge, but I've seen so many stories on here from women who have fled abusive relationships and the great work that the refuge's do.

I simply Googled Women's Aid and my local town and got a number to call. I asked if they were in need of baby clothing donations and the lady told me that they had a few women in the refuge with young babies who would be extremely grateful.

Just something to think on next time you have a clear out.

[pitterpatterrain]

Thanks good reminder

[Orangedaisy]

I did this recently as I have a ton of stuff that I'd like to go to a good home. Local women's aid weren't interested. I'm glad others are but it's not always a given that they will take baby clothes. I have now found another good home for my stuff (just an acquaintance who is expecting and very happy to have second hand stuff).

[CherriesInTheSnow]

Thank you OP :)

I have just found out my next baby is a boy and first baby was a girl, so have bags and bags of clothes to give away which I was going to give to a friend who has recently had a baby, but I know she doesn't really need it and most will be used as "spares"

I will give find my local one or drop Women's Aid an email, thanks again.

[CherriesInTheSnow]

Cross posted, have also found this website for anyone struggling to find somewhere to donate stuff that will specifically go to new mums in need:

baby-basics.org.uk/how-to-get-involved/giving-supplies/

[CatsMother66]

All my stuff is given to a friend who sorts it out for those in need. Charity shops sometimes have so much stuff that they bin donations without even looking at it. I know that things go to local community centres, hospitals etc. Women's refuges always looking for clothes, toys, books, anything really as families turn up with nothing but the clothes they are wearing. They allow the children to take toys with them when they move on, so are always looking for more.

[3isthemagicnumbersoimtold]

I tried to donate them to Women's Aid in Glasgow and they werent interested.

[LittleMyLikesSnuffkin]

Having not long left refuge can i also add that stuff people donate isn't stained, ripped, has bits missing etc? We used to bin so much stuff including large items like toys and pushchairs that were broken. We were massively appreciative of the stuff that was in good/excellent nick (90% of it was fine) but shoes with holes in the soles, unwashed towels and heavily soiled babygros- no thank you!

Also sometimes refuge will turn down donations simply because they dont have space to store them. One lady donated various baby things all in fab condition but at the time there wasnt any children under 2 living there and we had no space to store it all which was a shame.

[Screamer1]

I tried to do this recently. Had absolutely loads of good stuff. I tried several refuge's and chased several times but no one got back to me. I understand they are severely under resourced but I'd love to know what I could do once I've amassed a load more.

I ended up taking them to the Grenfell
tower donation centre.

[CaveMum]

The webpage for my local refuge asks that people phone before bringing donations in in case they already have a surplus (and they don't have much storage space).

This is the list of donations they welcome:

The following items are well used on a daily basis.

We make these items available to women and children who have arrived at the refuge with little or no belongings. Please note we can only accept items that are in a good, clean condition and could be described “as new”.

Bath towels
Tea towels
Toilet rolls *
Bed linen
Sheets and blankets for cots
Pillows
Duvets
Baby wipes & babies nappies – all sizes *
Toiletries *
Cosmetics *
Underwear *
Deodorant *
Bubble bath *
Hairbrushes/combs *
Shampoo and conditioner *
Toothbrushes/toothpaste
Boxes of tissues
Tinned food *
Dried food *
Tea & coffee *
Cartons of made up baby formula *

• new, unopened and unused only please
  
  We also appreciate and can make use of the following items:
  DVD’s
  DVD players *
  Hair dryers *
  Hair straighteners *
  Clothes/trainers suitable for exercise *
  Bathing suits *
  Pyjamas
  Slippers
  Dressing gowns
  Baby bottles *
  Unlocked mobile phones with charger
  Socks
  Underwear
  Umbrellas
  Clothes for women (please call to check)
  Smart, professional clothing for women, such as business suits
  Clothes for children (please call to check)
  Baby equipment
  Mobile phones with chargers
  Curtains
  Curtain poles
  Window blinds
  Diaries
  Calendars
  
  Currently we cannot accept:
  Cuddly/soft toys (unless new with labels attached)
  Most second hand toys (please call to check)
  Books
  Mini toiletries from hotels
  Soap

[paddypants13]

Thanks @CherriesInTheSnow! I have just emailed my local centre. I did donate a load of clothes for older children to my local women's refuge recently. However, they had just had a big donation of newborn clothes so I still have those.

[kshaw]

I tried to do this, all g with lots of nappies and maternity pads and not one of the 10 centres I was told my email would be circulated to got back to me. Nappies and things went to good bank and clothes to charity shop!

[babybat]

It's also worth googling baby bank + [your city], there are several now that collects used baby items in good condition and passes them on to families in need. I donated a load of DD's outgrown stuff to the baby bank in Norwich, and they were really lovely.

[LittleMyLikesSnuffkin]

Unfortunately with so many refuges closing and the remaining ones being staffed on a shoestring they're struggling as it is with just day to day running of them. The one i was in was getting on average 10 referrals a day and was always full up with a waiting list of women to come in. Not to mention all the other phone calls and follow ups (police, social care, family court, criminal court etc) they have to deal with. I doubt they did deliberately dont get back to people who call them about donations.

[RodeoDriveBaby]

I desperately want to but i can never seem to find out where or how to do this? I'm in SE London.

I'd love to volunteer my time at one too but again never seem to see any opportunities to do this.

[WomblingThree]

I tried to donate a shed ton of stuff to a refuge. I emailed WA several times and was completely ignored. I then tried to donate it to a local church that helps people moving into housing after homelessness. Again after 2 emails and a voicemail I was ignored. Before anyone says it was probably dirty stained crap, they had no way of knowing as they couldn't even be bothered to find out.

I now just Freecycle everything I don't want, in the hope that at least it will do someone some good.

[Questioningeverything]

Thanks op, got tons at home I keep meaning to charity shop, I gave a van full last time to women's aid including baby equipment, (first baby clearout) and now it's time for it again. Saved my local refuges number and will give a call when I'm home.

[highinthesky]

Brilliant thread! Thanks for the steer CaveMum and CherriesInTheSnow.

[alsmutko]

Could also try your local health centre which has a baby clinic - when DD was a baby I offloaded the baby bath and a few other items via the health visitor who had a client who'd moved into a new flat after DV with very few possessions. I was so happy to help. Esp as I'd been in the same position earlier.

[babybat]

RodeoDriveBaby try Little Village or Growbaby if you're in London.

[alsmutko]

And there's nothing wrong in donating to a charity shop. I know you do get some second hand sellers buying up the best stuff but there are no doubt many who can't afford new. I was always finding DD's best new clothes in the local charity shops.
However, one child minder I knew said she'd never give to charity shops because she doesn't know how much is raised for the charity (easy enough to find out I'd have thought). If only half goes to the benefit of the charity that's something isn't it? Or is it better the things end up in landfill (as she freely admitted they would). Grrr.

[CaveMum]

Our local Children's Centre has a clothing rail offering clothes for free to those who need them, so that's another place to consider donating.

[babybat]

Or The Small Project - maybe one of these is close to you?

[thereallochnessmonster]

Tried this - but our women's refuge had too many donations and nowhere to put any more :(

Glad you could help!

[eddielizzard]

i donated my old baby clothes to a refuge but it took several phone calls to do it. they are very understaffed.

[CaveMum]

alsmutko I didn't mean to insinuate there was anything wrong in donating to a charity shop.

The charity door collections are definitely the worst option, if you read the small print on the bags they reveal that the charities get a token payment for every tonne of clothing received while the collection company keep the rest.