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Frequently Asked Questions

About Chest Heart & Stroke Scotland charity shops

We’ve listed below some of the most frequently asked questions about our charity shops and boutiques. If you don’t find the answer to your questions in these FAQs, please get in touch and we’d be happy to help.

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 pop in to your local store to drop off your donations. If you would like to check the opening hours of the store, or have any questions about dropping off your items, please use our store finder or give your local shop a call.

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 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

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

Most of our stores have changing rooms where you can try on clothes in-store. 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

Get in touch

If you didn’t find the answer to your questions in these FAQs, please get in touch and we’d be happy to help.

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