A DONATION centre has been set up for Wirral Hospice St John's to help people de-clutter and raise vital funds after lockdown.

While the last five months has allowed time to work on that long overdue clear-out, the closure of charity shops and queues at recycling centres means a mountain of clothing and other accessories has built up at homes across the borough.

The former Co-op in Market Street, Hoylake, is now ready to take in these unwanted items for Wirral Hospice.

Wirral Globe: Retail development manager Patrick Smith outside the donation centre

The centre is open at the back of the store each Wednesday and Thursday from 10am, with 3pm the latest available drop-off time.

All the details for directions to the loading bay at the back of the store is then sent to them via email.

The drop off point is in the open-air, but people can wear a mask for safety if they want to.

A limited pick-up service is available for larger furniture, sofas, three-piece suites, wardrobes, beds and cupboards.

To join the waiting list for pick up, send a photograph (including safety labels) to fundraising@wirralhospice.org

Once taken into the donation centre, goods will be quarantined for 72 hours. They will be sorted for re-distribution to the charity's shops around Wirral.

Wirral Globe: Volunteer Sue helping out with sorting stock

To avoid congestion people must pre-book a ‘drop-off slot’ via the hospice’s website at www.wirralhospice.org/shopping where they can choose a time, enter their email address and phone number.

All the details for directions to the loading bay at the back of the store is then sent to them via email.

They’ll be greeted by friendly hospice staff and asked to place goods on a platform ready for carrying into the quarantine area inside, where socially distanced volunteers are busy sorting the stock which has already been quarantined ready for transporting to the shops.

Donors can also sign a form to add Gift Aid, an extra 25% on many of their items, which can then be claimed by the hospice.

Wirral Globe:

Hospice supporter Charmaine drops off one small car load

All kinds of small to medium sized goods are being accepted (all clothes, even what you may consider rags, are welcome), including a full range of accessories, shoes, bags, toys, household items, jewellery, dinner services, electrical items like TVs and radios and, in fact, nearly anything that can be re-sold in the charity shops.

The hospice has seven shops around Wirral although, for now, it has opened three of them at Moreton, Liscard and New Brighton.

Patrick Smith, Wirral Hospice St John's retail development manager, said: "A significant contribution is made every year to the hospice's specialist care and support services from our charity shops and that has inevitably been hit hard this year.

"We've received so many calls from supporters during lockdown that it's really great to finally have a safe and substantial space in Hoylake to accept their pre-loved goods.

"As ever it will be the generosity of our whole Wirral community that will help us pull through".

Wirral Globe: Volunteer Kerry helping out with sorting stock

The hospice is also running a limited pick-up service just now for larger furniture, sofas, three-piece suites, wardrobes, beds and cupboards, and are asking people to help by sending a photograph (including safety labels) to fundraising@wirralhospice.org join a waiting list for pick up.

And, the same email address can be used for people from the Hoylake area who might like to express an interest in volunteering to help with sorting items in the donation centre.