How you can help
Donate items
Children’s clothing, toys and equipment are used for a limited period before the child outgrows them. Many items are still useable at this point and in perfect condition to gift to another child. We accept new and pre-loved items and gift them to families who need them most.
Occasionally, we may be unable to use donated items, in which case we will strive to pass them on to other organisations or sell the item to help us fund support for local families.
Donation days are held regularly for members of our community to donate high quality items their child no longer uses. We will share our Wish List before each donation day which includes details of items most needed. Please check our Wish List for items we currently need, if an item is not on the list it means we are currently well stocked.
As a small charity we are unable to offer a collection service but there is parking available outside our building and a member of the team will be happy to help you unload and carry items from your car.
Please see the list of items we can and can’t accept before making your donation.
Accepted
Please ensure all items are in full working order and there are no missing parts. We are a small team and unable to replace parts or fix broken items. We want to give all children the best start in life and the opportunity to thrive and we strongly feel all items we gift to families should reflect this. Our golden rule is “if it is in good enough condition to give to a friend, it is good enough condition to donate”.
Premature baby to 4 years old suitable for boys and girls
Books – no tears or writing on pages
Toys – all parts must be in good order
Puzzles – all pieces to be included
Small stuffed toys / teddies
Play mats and play gyms
Bouncers and rockers
Moses basket and stands
Cots and cot beds – no mattresses
Travel Cots
Bedding – blankets, sheets, duvets and covers suitable for cots / cot beds
Bottles and teats – must be in unopened and sterile packaging
Children’s drinking cups – unused
Children’s plates, bowls and cutlery – unused
Baby baths and bath supports
Changing mats
Changing bags
Overnight / hospital bags
Prams and pushchairs
High chairs
Slings / baby carriers
Stair gates – pressure fit only
Sterilisers – microwave or cold water only
Child:
Nappies and nappy bags
Wipes
Bubble bath
Baby soap
Baby Lotion
Baby Oil
Shampoo / Conditioner
Nappy cream
Talcum powder
Tooth brushes
Toothpaste
Adult:
Maternity pads
Nursing pads
Hygiene wipes
Shampoo / Conditioner
Toothbrush and Toothpaste
Maternity Clothes
Breast pads – new & unopened only
Maternity Pads – new & unopened only
New Mum toiletries – new & unopened only
Please refer to our safety checklist when considering donating larger items to ensure they meet UK safety standards
Unable to accept
The reasoning for not accepting these items are due to safety, hygiene and storage space. We strive to ensure all items donated to families are safe to use and comply with UK safety regulations.
We have limited storage space and prioritise items which are most needed and regularly requested.
Large toys
Bicycles & scooters
Outdoor toys (slides / swingsets)
Used mattresses
Bed guards / bumpers
Cot mobiles
Used breast-pumps
Used bottles & teats
Used dummies
Baby monitors
Car seats
Door bouncers
Electrical items
Baby nests
We can’t accept any toiletries which have been opened or have damaged packaging
Used potties & toilet seats
Nappy bins
We do not accept any furniture
Nursery décor – pictures, lights, curtains
Baby advice / pregnancy books
Used toiletries
Breast pumps
Donate money
We appreciate all contributions, large and small, and thank you for your kindness and generosity. Donating money can help us buy essential items for families in need in our area.
Some examples of how funds raised can be used include:
- £5 could buy a toiletries pack for a New Mum
- £10 could buy a home safety kit for a child
- £20 could buy one month supply of nappies for a child
-
£30 could buy a new mattress and sheets for a donated cot / cot bed
You can make a one-off donation or make a monthly pledge to support local families.
You can also donate via SMS. Simply text LOVEAMELIA to 70085 to donate £5
If you prefer to send a donation to our charity bank account or cheque, please email hello@loveamelia.org.uk for details. Please make cheques payable to Love, Amelia.
If you prefer, you can stop by our office and make a donation in person. Please contact us prior to your office visit to ensure a member of the team is available to greet you.
Donate time
We are very grateful to our volunteers who donate their time at Love, Amelia. If you would like to volunteer your time on a regular or ad-hoc basis, we would love to have you. Sessions are flexible to fit around busy life and school runs. You can volunteer as an individual or as a group to make a real difference to our community. If you are interested in volunteering, please read our volunteers handbook for more information.
Our office is located near to the Town Centre and has plenty on-site parking. Please get in touch to discuss opportunities to volunteer.
You can also donate your time by offering your professional skills to help Love, Amelia run successfully. This can include; HR, finance, admin, fundraising, legal, communications. Please contact us directly to discuss how you can help.
Fundraise
Fundraising events are a great way of helping us to promote Love, Amelia whilst raising funds to help keep the charity operational. Fundraising events are a fun way to engage with your community and help support families across Sunderland and South Tyneside. If you would like to arrange your own Love, Amelia fundraiser, please get in touch with us and we can help promote the event.