About our shop
Set in the heart of Maidstone next to Fremlin Walk, and just a stone's throw from our stunning Maidstone RSA store, our Earl Street charity shop is a treasure trove of pre-loved finds offering a unique boutique feel for thrifty shoppers!
Volunteers needed in our Maidstone Earl Street charity shop
We are currently looking for volunteers to help in our Maidstone Earl Street charity shop! To find out more about volunteering in our Earl Street charity shop please get in touch with our Voluntary Services Department by emailing volunteering@demelza.org.uk.
Thinking about making a donation?
Are you accepting donated goods?
We are now accepting donations at all open shop locations. You can check our full list of items we are able to accept, and those we are unable to accept. You can help us further by considering whether they are in a good, clean condition and in working order before bringing them in. If you're wanting to donate furniture or bulkier items, please take a look at our Furniture collection page, or alternatively, you can email at furniture@demelza.org.uk.
There may be occasions where our shops are unable to accept donations due to capacity, waste costs and safety but you can find alternative Demelza locations to donate to.
Please don't forget to Gift Aid your donation if you can, to help make your donation go further!
What can I donate?
The following items can be donated at our charity shops:
Clothing
- Womenswear, menswear and children's clothing
- Shoes and boots
- Handbags, purses, wallets and suitcases
- Accessories, such as belts, ties, hats, gloves and scarves
- Jewellery
- Wedding and bridesmaid dresses and accessories
Collectibles & Homeware
- Furniture with fire safety labels in place where appropriate (please visit our furniture collection page for more details before donating furniture)
- Soft furnishings and linen, cushions and throws
- Household items and equipment
- Tools and DIY equipment
- Electrical items, such as working lamps, functioning kitchen appliances (please visit our furniture collection page for more details before donating bulkier items)
- Collectables and memorabilia
- Designer and vintage brands in excellent condition
Media & Technology
- Books and records
- DVDs and CDs
- Gaming consoles, tech and other media
- Toys, puzzles and games that are fully working with all parts
What can't I donate?
The following items are prohibited from being donated at our charity shops:
Furniture and household Items
- Upholstered furniture without a fire label including items without a label that are part of a set
- Upholstered furniture that is damaged or has torn fabric
- Furniture with missing parts or damage that makes them unsafe
- Veneered items that are damaged exposing the inner wood
- Coat hangers
- Chopping Boards & Food Hygiene Products
- Plastic carrier bags
Electrical items
- Electric blankets
- Electric showers
- Sunbeds and tanning equipment
- Waste disposal units
- CRT televisions or televisions without the remote controls
- E Scooters
- White goods
- Personal hygiene items (hair trimmers) unless new and boxed
Heating and cooking
- Old toasters
- Gas cookers
- Oil or gas agas
- Microwaves
Sports and safety equipment
- Safety helmets
- Riding/cycling hats
- Crash helmets, cycle helmets, motorcycle helmets
- Fire fighting equipment
Children’s equipment
- Children’s car seats
- McDonald's toys
- Toys without a CE mark
- Broken toys, or games and toys with missing parts
- Hairbands, clips, brushes
- Old travel cots or moses baskets with no stand
- Potties/nappy disposal units
- Used cups/beakers/bottles
Pianos and organs
- Please speak to a member of our staff who will be able to advise you about donating these items
Weapons
- Knives, swords, crossbows
- Guns and ammunition
- Replica guns
Software and hardware
- Home recorded DVDs, videos and audio tapes
- Home recorded computer games and software on recordable CDs and DVDs
- Printers and ink cartridges
- Cassette and video tapes
- Sky boxes
- Sat Navs
Miscellaneous
- Broken and damaged or unsellable bric-a-brac including mugs, cups plates and glasses unless they are part of a set
- Personal appliances such as shavers and foot spas, unless they are unused
- Used duvets, pillows, and sleeping bags
- Lifesaving or flotation swimming equipment or inflatables
- Medication, including vitamins or medical equipment
- Prescription glasses/sunglasses
- Cleaning products, solvents and adhesives
- Ivory, fur or taxidermy
- Fitted carpets or used blinds
- Perishable goods, food or drink
Are you collecting or delivering furniture?
We are able to offer collection and delivery (subject to driver availability and location) on furniture and bulky items and would request that a doorstep service is in place where possible. These must be prearranged in advance.
If you are interested in our collection or delivery service please visit our furniture collection page for more information, or email furniture@demelza.org.uk to arrange.
Can you collect donations from my house?
We do not collect donations from houses, apart from prearranged furniture collections.
Please be aware that we do not currently distribute or collect charity bags door-to-door. If you do receive a charity bag claiming to be from Demelza Hospice Care for Children, please let us know by emailing websiteemails@demelza.org.uk in the first instance.
Can I drop off my donations to your shed at the Sittingbourne hospice?
Our donation shed at Demelza Kent is no longer open for donations. This is due to our central distribution centre in Maidstone closing recently, meaning we're unable to transport and process these donations.
Your closest donation points to our Kent site are Sittingbourne and Rainham Demelza shops, both of which are happy to help!
You can email queries to trading@demelza.org.uk or call our mainline on 01795 503110.
Alternatively, we have lots of information on our website about how what, and when you can donate to us which is worth checking first.
Where can I take my items that you can't accept?
We are sorry that we will not be able to accept all donations due to suitability and our own capacity. Please, do check your own local council website for advice on guidance on recycling centres, or approach other charities that may need your particular items. As always, thank you so much for thinking of Demelza.
How and when can I donate my items to your shops?
Our shops are able to take donations during their opening hours, however, there may be occasions where volumes of donations are high and they do not have the capacity to accept any more items. We recommend calling ahead to your local Demelza charity shop to ensure they have the space to accommodate your donations.
