Where can you donate soft toys and teddy bears?
A new chapter for old favourites
Small, clean and ready to be loved again.
A teddy that’s been outgrown doesn’t have to be thrown away. You can donate used soft toys in good condition through a home collection service, a charity shop or a specialist project that accepts them.
At Donate Clothes, we welcome small soft toys that are clean, dry and intact — even if their original label has gone missing. If you’re ready to make a little room in the toy box, here’s how to find the right next step for your cuddly companions.
In this guide
Which soft toys can you donate to us?
Small teddy bears and other small cuddly toys are welcome in our collections. They don’t have to be brand new, but they do need to be in good enough condition to be used again.
- Clean and completely dry: no stains, dampness or mould.
- Whole and in good condition: no holes, torn seams, escaping stuffing or loose parts.
- Small soft toys only: we can’t collect big soft toys, huge teddy bears or plastic toys.
If you’re unsure whether a toy is suitable, please check with us before adding it to your donation. Our About & FAQ page explains what else you can include if you’re having a wider clear-out.
Can you donate soft toys without a label?
Yes — we accept small soft toys without their original label, as long as they’re clean, dry and in good, reusable condition.
Other organisations have their own requirements. For example, Cats Protection’s charity shops don’t accept soft toys without CE or UKCA marking, so check your chosen recipient’s rules before making a trip.
Do charity shops take soft toys?
Some do. Oxfam accepts new and used soft toys and asks for used ones to be washed before donation. It doesn’t accept dirty or broken toys.
Speak to the particular shop you’re planning to visit, especially if you have a large bear or several bags to donate. A quick check of what it can take will save you carrying everything there only to bring it home again.
Where can you donate soft toys near you?
If you’d prefer to donate from home, our collections are free in the areas we serve. Choose your charity, enter your postcode and address, then select an available collection date. You can browse our collection areas before you get started.
Our collections help raise funds for the charity you choose. If you’d prefer to give a teddy directly to a child or family, look for an organisation that specifically arranges this.
For a specialist route, The Teddy Trust accepts clean, cuddly teddy bears that meet its guidelines, rather than every kind of soft toy. It excludes bears over 38 cm (15 inches), as well as other animal toys and those with sound or internal mechanisms. Read its acceptance criteria before sending a parcel.
How to get your soft toys ready for collection
Once you’ve chosen the toys you’re ready to part with, a few simple checks will help keep your donation in good condition:
- Check each toy over. Look at seams, stuffing and any attached eyes or noses. Leave damaged toys out of your donation.
- Clean them as needed. Follow the care instructions where available. Don’t assume every soft toy can go in the washing machine; if the label is missing, choose a cleaning method suitable for that toy.
- Let them dry completely. Check that the filling is dry too before packing them away.
- Pack and keep them protected. Use your own bags or boxes, keep everything dry and follow your booking instructions for where to leave your donation on collection day.
What can you do with a large teddy bear?
Big soft toys and huge teddy bears aren’t suitable for our collections, even when they’re in lovely condition. Ask a local charity shop whether it can accept yours before taking it in.
Loved Before is a specialist soft-toy rehoming service that considers a broad range of sizes. It assesses each donation individually, so ask whether your large bear is suitable before sending it.
Can old soft toys be recycled?
If a soft toy is too damaged to be used again, leave it out of your Donate Clothes collection and look into local recycling or disposal options.
Recycle Now’s toy guidance says toys shouldn’t go in your home recycling. Some recycling centres accept toys or their components, but you’ll need to check whether your local service can take that particular soft toy. Don’t assume a clothing or textile bank accepts it either.
Can you give used soft toys to a Christmas appeal?
Check the appeal’s own rules. For example, The Salvation Army’s Christmas Present Appeal asks for new, unwrapped gifts and doesn’t accept second-hand toys. That’s different from donating a pre-loved teddy to a charity shop or a collection service.
There’s no need to wait for an appeal to pass on small soft toys that meet our acceptance rules. When you’re ready, choose your charity and check collection availability. We’ll help make the next part simple.
