Buckingham Freegle

25/10/2025

18/10/2025

Do you still love Charity Shops?
Too expensive?
All the same?
Still donating stuff or not so much?
Let us know your thoughts in the comments⬇️

‘I love thrifting but charity shops as we know them could soon cease to exist’

“Thrifting expert Lisa Brown has opened up on the reasons she expects charity shops will soon no longer exist on the high street - and revealed what she thinks charities will do instead.

A second-hand shopping specialist believes the "end of charity shops as we know it" is approaching, which she claims will force many pre-loved stores to "reinvent themselves" to stay competitive with current market demands. This month, Cancer Research UK revealed intentions to shut nearly 200 of its outlets over the coming 18 months whilst creating 12 out-of-town superstores by 2027.

Meanwhile, Scope disclosed that additional charity shops will be closing permanently within the next fortnight across England and Wales, bringing the total closures to 58 this year alone. This development led self-described 'Vinted and charity shop treasure hunter' Lisa Brown to share her predictions about other charities adopting similar strategies.

"Small high street shops are going to have to close - they can't maintain and can't pay the bills - they're making a loss," explained Lisa, who provides reselling advice and charity shop guidance online.

She went on to predict the rise of "big warehouse-type stores" replacing the smaller premises, mirroring thrift outlets found across America.
"Obviously they are going to be few and far between because they need big locations and big sites," she noted. "So they're going to be on industrial estates and not the high street really anymore."

Lisa also believes that charity shops will undergo a "rebranding" process, something she said is already in progress. She elaborated: "What they are doing is opening kind of vintage-style retro shops - you may have already been in one without realising it is a charity shop."
She further explained her perspective on the reasoning behind this: "I guess they want to make you feel you're in more of a boutique than a charity shop - and that way they can command higher prices."
Lisa concluded by stating "we could see the change coming" for quite some time, with the rise of Vinted and similar reselling apps making it easy for users to profit from their unwanted items rather than simply donating them….”

Full story here ➡️ https://www.bristolpost.co.uk/whats-on/shopping/i-love-thrifting-charity-shops-10565351

📸 A charity shop expert has predicted big changes to the high street in the coming months (stock)(Image: Nick David via Getty Images)

As always, you can give away your unwanted stuff to local people of your choice, just grab the free app 🙌
➡️ https://www.ilovefreegle.org/mobile

26/09/2025

Lots of good reasons to not hoard or throw away used medical aids 🙌

There are now some NHS drop off points for unwanted walking aids around England and as always you can easily give away your surplus stuff via the Freegle app or website
➡️ https://www.ilovefreegle.org/mobile

Find NHS drop-off locations ➡️ https://www.recyclenow.com/recycle-an-item/walking-aids

WHY RETURN OR PASS ON WALKING AIDS?

1. Recycling your walking aid can help to reduce carbon emissions
On average, reusing a refurbished walking aid is 87% lower in carbon emissions than using a new walking aid! This can make a huge difference in reducing our carbon footprint as walking aids are one of the top 20 medical devices for carbon intensity due to their aluminium or steel construction. Returns at one Trust in Essex are saving 67 tonnes per year! That's the same as 2,540 car trips from London to Bristol.
2. It saves money
Reusing refurbished walking aids is not only great for the planet, it reduces the costs of buying new. The average hospital could save £46k per year if just two out of every five aids were returned for reuse. Faulty walking aids that are beyond repair can be recycled as scrap metal, generating income for the trust.
3. It’s safe
Once a walking aid has been returned, it will be thoroughly cleaned and checked to ensure it is in good condition and safe to reuse. By returning your broken or defective walking aids and removing them from circulation, you will be helping to improve patient safety and reducing the risk of injury.
4. Walking aids are designed to last
Unlike many medical devices, walking aids do not have a use by date. They are designed to be kept in use for as long as possible and are simple to refurbish.

By making the most of return and reuse schemes, we can help make a positive impact on the environment and help the NHS resources go further.
5. Returning your walking aid is convenient
Simply check the Locator for opening times and directions to the collection point or check with your local trust.

So far there are 100+ NHS trusts collecting walking aids for reuse and another 44 are looking to introduce a reuse scheme in the next couple of years.

Keep checking in case a drop-off location opens near you and let your local trust know you’re interested in a scheme.

By making the most of return and reuse schemes, we can help make a positive impact on the environment and help the NHS resources go further.