PEOPLE would overwhelmingly rather donate to a charity shop than sell online, a survey has revealed.

Scope, a charitable organisation raising money to support disabled people and their families, have commissioned research to see if the rise of resale apps were stopping people from donating to charity shops after a clear out.

The organisation has often been asked if these apps impact on the quality and quantity of donations and the charity says that the answer is an emphatic no, and now they know why. 

According to the survey, we’re still a nation of great donators by donating to charity shops rather than selling online.

An overwhelming two in three (65 per cent) people in the West Midlands prefer to donate their items after a clear out to a charity shop compared to just two in seven (28 per cent) prefer to sell their items on resale apps.

When questioned further, five out of six respondents (83 per cent) said that donating to charity shops made them feel good.

A further three in four (65 per cent) revealed that the added benefit of donating to charity shops was the feeling of the space they get back.

It also appears that despite the cost of living crisis, the public’s support for charity shops is a strong as ever.

The charity asked 2,000 adults about donating to charity shops or selling online after a clear out. Some 76 per cent of people said they believe their donation to a charity shop will fund something important.

One in five people revealed that they’ve been inspired to donate to charity shops by decluttering programmes on television.

The research comes as the Scope charity shops launch their Great Donate campaign, asking people to have a clear out and donate their pre-loved items to their local Scope charity shop, this spring in order to help raise vital funds and support disabled people and their families.

Erica Pollard, Scope charity shop manager in Ross-on-Wye, said: “It’s great to hear people still prefer to donate to charity shops than sell online. I personally believe you can’t beat the community feel of our charity shop, which you don’t get with a resale app.

“I’ve been here for 10 years and have watched people grow up from children to become regular customers, it’s a bit like having an extended family sometimes and we know most of our regulars by name.

“I know another reason why people like donating to us, it’s because we are a friendly team who have such an amazing fun. We all work hard to offer what I think is the very best customer service in the town.

“We know people go to a lot of time and effort to have a clear out, bring the bags into town and then drop them off with us, so we don’t turn any donation away.

“We make sure they know just how much we appreciate their effort and always thank them for thinking of Scope.

“At the shop we ensure we get the right balance of raising as much as we can, whilst giving a wonderful quality range of pre-loved items to choose from at fantastic prices.

“Our team couldn’t run the shop without donations so, this spring, if anyone is thinking of having a clear out, we’d love you to donate the items you’ve fallen out of love with so we can give them a new home.

“Every donation helps us to raise vital funds for Scope to support disabled people and their families. The charity’s services have never been needed more than during the cost of living crisis.”