Our charity supports people throughout Devon and in Taunton, Somerset. Our charity shop in Ilfracombe raises money to support children, young people and adults with unique health conditions, impairments or limitations in Ilfracombe and the surrounding community.

We try to sell everything that you kindly donate to us but there are certain items we are unable to sell. We ask that you do not donate these items as they could cost us money to dispose of which takes vital funds away from the people who need us.

If you have any questions with reference to whether an item is suitable to donate to us, please email shop@adventuretherapy.org.uk. Thank you for your understanding and support.

Safety

We don't sell items which may be dangerous to our staff, volunteers or customers. We also don't sell equipment which we can't guarantee is still effective.

Hygiene

We do not sell items which present a hygiene risk in their use or handling.

Legal reasons

We do not sell items which are legally prohibited from sale. We also do not sell items which require a license which is either inappropriate or too expensive to obtain.

Wellbeing

We do not sell legal items which may cause harm.

Undesirability

We do not sell items which are unlikely to sell or would be against our principles if we sold them.

Appliances and equipment

• All electrical equipment (at present) due to the cost of PAT testing these items.
• Mains or bottled gas appliances which includes cookers, tumble dryers, fires, lighters and hair styling tools.
• Oil heaters, petrol or diesel fuelled items.
• Computer hard drives. For legal reasons copyright law forbids the resale of computers and related items containing software.
• Pedal cycles. It is against the law to sell an unsafe bicycle and we are unable to test the safety and suitability of cycles.
• All types of protective headgear. This includes cycle helmets, motorbike helmets, horse riding helmets and other hard hats.
• Wheelchairs and wheeled walkers. We are unable to guarantee infection control and wheelchairs should only be purchased with professional advice to ensure the items is suitable and appropriate for the user. 
• Mobility scooters. These need to be tested for road worthiness and we are unable to provide this service.

Medical and cosmetic items

• Medication of any kind. Due to safety and legal reasons. 
• Cosmetics and scents. Due to hygiene and undesirability unless aftershaves and perfumes are new and sealed (i.e. unopened) in their original packaging.
• Dentures and prosthetics for hygiene and wellbeing reasons.
• Earrings and jewellery for pierced ears or other body parts. We are unable to accept these for hygiene and safety reasons.
• Prescription glasses. For wellbeing reasons.

Dangerous items

• Weapons and realistic toy weapons. For legal reasons and undesirability.
• Firearms and ammunition. For legal reasons and undesirability. This includes airsoft, paintball, starting pistols and other blank firing weapons and ammunition. 
• Pointed objects that could be used as weapons. For safety and legal reasons. This includes butchers knives, flick knives, butterfly knives, sports knives, swords, daggers and axes.
• Please note that knives, blades or other sharply pointed items that could cause injury will not be sold to anyone under the age of 18. This excludes scissors or compasses. We keep a refusal register to notify Trading Standards of anyone who appears under the age of 18 and without ID to prove otherwise and is refused a purchase.

Poisonous, hazardous and toxic substances

• Flammable items such as firelighters and barbeque lighting tools.
• Solvents and solvent based products.

Multimedia

• Any goods which may infringe copyright law. This includes pirated DVDs and counterfeit CDs. These can often be identified by the colour of the disc, hologram labelling or poor packaging.
• Pornographic publications, including DVDs and videos. For legal reasons and undesirabilty.
• Any DVDs or bluray's which are nor legally classified by the British Board of film Classification. This is due to legality and undesirability.
• Please note that film and video games cannot be sold to anyone underage. This includes certificated 12, 15 and 18. Films which are certificated as 18 are kept on the highest shelf possible. We keep a refusal register to notify Trading Standards of anyone who appears under the age of 18 and without ID to prove otherwise and is refused a purchase.

Children's items

• Toys without the CE mark cannot be accepted for legal and safety reasons.
• Cot, crib or moses basket mattresses. Research shows there is an increased risk of sudden infant death syndrome when using another families second hand baby mattress. Although there is no proven link, please click here for help with choosing your baby's mattress.
• Children's car seats or booster seats. Second hand seats often have no instructions or incomplete instructions. Seats which are not installed correctly or are damaged may not provide sufficient protection for a child in an accident.
• Used breast pumps, sterilisers or baby monitors. For safety and hygiene reasons.
• Baby walking frames, door bouncers and baby slings. For safety reasons.
• Child safety gates. A second hand stair gate may not come with the necessary fixtures and fittings. These are essential for ensuring safety.
• Nursery furniture which includes upholstery. These would need to comply with the Furniture and Furnishings (Fire Safety) Regulations 1988 and have the relevant label attached or predate 1950.
• Repainted cots. Cots which have been repainted may contain harmful substances if chewed (such as lead).

Consumables

• Alcohol
• Cigarettes, tobacco and related products including cigars or e-cigarettes, vapes and their accessories.
• Drugs including prescription drugs, recreational or illegal substances or drug related paraphernalia. 
• Foodstuffs. A Food Standard Agency license is required.

Animal derived products

• Items made of fur including new and secondhand items.
• Items made of ivory. The trade in ivory is banned, except for pre-1900 furniture, wooden items or pianos with ivory inlays or keys and items believed to be antique. An affidavit from an antiques dealer is required to ensure items are sold legally.
• Items made of bone. This includes items made from animals such as elephants, mammoths, walruses and whales.
• Turtle or tortoiseshell items. This applies to items made in whole or in part from any part of sea turtles, regardless of the age of the item. Tortoiseshell patterned items made of plastic or synthetic materials are permitted, but should clearly indicate they are not made of tortoiseshell.
• Items produced from endangered species. Endangered species are listed by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora and the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources. This applies to both new and secondhand products, but not to antiques.
• Items related to Taxidermy in any form.
• Items related to the hunting of animals.

Other items we are unable to sell

• Furniture.
• Gollliwog related items, including toys, dolls, books, badges. Due to ethics and undesirability.
• Sex aids or sex toys in any condition. Due to hygiene and undesirability.
• Nightwear without flammable warning labels. This includes children’s and adults’ nightdresses, pajamas, dressing gowns and bathrobes.
• Mattresses, pillows and quilts unless they are in new and unused condition. 

Alongside these listed goods, our shop staff and volunteers reserve the right to refuse to take or sell items for other reasons not outlined on this page.

Please email shop@adventuretherapy.org.uk for further guidance prior to making a donation of your items, if required.