Donate Handbags and Purses to Charity From Home
Got a handbag you never carry, or a purse that has sat in a drawer for years? Book a free collection and we’ll pick it up from your doorstep, along with any clutch bags and shoulder bags you’re ready to part with. You don’t need to be in, and your donation supports the charity you choose.
- Free
- Everyday to occasion bags
- No need to be in
- You choose the charity
Why they matter
Handbags and purses are made to last
A good handbag outlives the outfit it was bought for. Most of us own more bags than we use, and the ones we stop carrying are usually in fine shape. That makes them some of the most useful things you can give.
Plenty of life left
A clutch bag bought for one wedding, or a purse swapped for a phone case, has hardly been used. It can go on for years with someone new.
Always useful
Everyone needs something to carry their things in. A sturdy second-hand handbag at a fraction of the price of new is a real help to someone on a tight budget.
Space back in the wardrobe
Bags take up a surprising amount of room on shelves and hooks. One collection clears the ones you don’t use.
No trip to make
You don’t need a car or a free afternoon. Leave your bags out and we come to you.
It’s the same free doorstep collection for bags and accessories we run for every home we visit. There are no fees, a large percentage of the proceeds goes to the charity you choose, and every handbag that is used again is one less in the bin.
What to give
What handbags and purses can I donate?
The test is simple: if it’s clean, dry and someone could carry it tomorrow, we’ll take it. High-street and designer, leather and fabric, everyday and occasion bags are all welcome.
- Everyday handbags and shoulder bags
- Cross-body bags and small messenger-style bags
- Tote bags, including canvas and fabric ones
- Clutch bags and evening bags for weddings and nights out
- Purses and coin purses
- Wallets and card holders
- Backpacks and rucksacks, while you’re clearing out
What condition is fine
Light signs of use are normal: softened leather, a little wear on the corners or handles. Straps, clasps and zips should work, and the lining should be whole.
Accessories too
Belts, scarves, jewellery and watches can go in the same collection. See what bags and accessories can I donate? for the full list.
Please leave out
A few things we can’t take
Broken, torn or stained bags
A snapped strap, a ripped lining, holes, heavy stains or a zip that won’t close mean the bag can’t be used again.
Instead: a cobbler or repair shop can often fix a strap or a clasp, and then it’s welcome. If it’s past saving, your local recycling centre.
Damp or mouldy bags
Bags kept in a loft or garage can pick up damp. Mould spreads to everything packed near it.
Instead: if it has a musty smell or spots of mould, it’s best thrown away.
Suitcases
We can’t collect suitcases or wheeled cases of any size.
Instead: a friend, neighbour or family member about to travel may be glad of one.
The full list for every kind of bag is on what bags and accessories can I donate?, and everything else is on what we collect.
Check every pocket before it goes. Handbags and purses are full of hiding places. Open every zip, inner pocket and card slot, and look for bank cards, cash, coins, keys, ID, gift cards and receipts with your name or address on them. Then turn the bag upside down and give it a shake. It only takes a minute, and it means you keep what’s yours.
Packing up
How to pack handbags so they keep their shape
A handbag that arrives in good shape is easier to pass on. A little care when you pack makes a real difference.
- Stuff structured bags with tissue paper, or a scarf you’re donating, so they don’t get crushed
- Do up the zips, clasps and buckles, and tuck long straps inside
- Pop purses, wallets and small clutch bags inside a bigger bag, so they stay together
- Put handbags at the top of a bag or box, with nothing heavy on top of them
- Use a tote bag or rucksack you’re giving away to carry other donations: it saves space and plastic bags
We’re not fussy about how things are packed, as long as they’re secure and easy to carry. Label them “Anglo Doorstep Collections” so our driver knows they’re for us.
Step by step
How to donate your handbags and purses
Book online
Enter your postcode, pick a collection date and choose the charity you’d like to support. It’s free. If dates near you are full, you can join the waiting list for the next one.
Empty and check
Go through every pocket for cards, cash and keys, and set aside anything broken, stained or damp.
Pack them with care
Stuff the bags, close the clasps and pack them in tied bags or boxes a driver can lift.
Leave them out by 7am
On the doorstep, in the porch, or wherever you told us when you booked. You don’t need to be at home. The evening before, we email you an estimated arrival window and a link to follow the driver on the day.
Everything else about booking and the day itself is on how do I donate my bags?
Afterwards
Where do donated handbags go?
Back to our warehouse, where every bag is opened and sorted by hand. Most handbags, purses and clutch bags go on to new owners, here in the UK and abroad, where they’re sold at low cost to people who can’t afford a new bag. Plastic bags are reused as protective packaging and cardboard is recycled.
Every collection also raises money for the charity you chose when you booked: RSPCA, Action for Children, Together for Short Lives or Advance, or you can plant trees with Ecologi. Follow the journey on what happens to my bags? and meet the people at the end of it on who do my bags help?
Using a bag again also spares the materials and energy it takes to make a new one. By our estimate, every kilo of bags and accessories reused instead of made new saves around 3 kg of CO2e and 2,500 litres of water. More on that is on how does donating bags help the planet?, or try the green calculator.
Questions
Questions people ask about donating handbags
Do I need to be at home?
No. Leave your bags out by 7am where you told us when you booked, and the driver collects them while you get on with your day.
Does it have to be a designer bag?
Not at all. Everyday high-street handbags, purses and tote bags are just as welcome as designer ones. What matters is that it’s clean, dry and in good working order.
My handbag is a bit worn on the corners. Is that OK?
Yes. Light wear is normal for a bag that has been used. We can’t take bags with broken straps or zips, torn linings, holes, stains or damp.
Can I donate an old purse or wallet?
Yes, as long as the clasp or zip works. Check every card slot and coin pocket first, and tuck small purses inside a bigger bag so they don’t go astray.
Can I give clothes and shoes at the same time?
Yes. One booking covers the whole household’s clear-out, from clothes and shoes to books and toys. See what we collect for the full list.
How many bags can I put out?
As many as you have from a normal clear-out. If you have more than 20 bags or boxes, tell us when you book so we can make sure the van has room.
Can I book a collection for tomorrow?
If we are collecting near you tomorrow, yes. Tomorrow’s collections stay open until 4pm today. Enter your postcode on the booking page to see your dates, or find your county on areas we cover.
More answers are on our frequently asked questions page.
Ready to donate your bags and accessories?
It’s free, you don’t need to be at home, and you choose the charity your donation supports.