We don’t wash all the items that come in and instead ask items to be washed and dried properly before donating them. If they look or smell unclean, we wash them before giving them out. If you receive items from the clothing bank we advise that you wash them before they are worn.

The vast majority of items donated to us are distributed to individuals and families experiencing financial hardship, or to other clothing projects and services that support people in need. Some items eg. formal evening dresses and clutch bags, as well as books etc. may be passed on to charity shops, where they are sold and the funds are used to support the work of other great local charities.

Many people receive support after contacting us directly and are given clothes or items that they need. We pass on any school uniform to Level Trust’s Uniform Exchange in The Mall, and support Discover Islam’s coat project with winter coats, jumpers, hats, scarves and gloves as well as wellies and other footwear, which are available to anyone who needs them by popping in to the centre on Upper George Street.

Yes, you can. You can donate via our JustGiving page here. All funds raised in this way will be used to support the clothing bank project and help us buy equipment and cover other expenses.

Anyone experiencing financial difficulty can get help from the clothing bank. This means people who are struggling to afford the normal things in life, and people who may be experiencing a significant financial burden which makes it harder for them to afford things that they need. This includes people who may be unemployed or on a low income as well as those who are working, people who are asylum seekers or have refugee status, people who are experiencing homelessness, and may be individuals, couples, or larger families. 

We are not currently accepting donations of clothes at the moment.

Usually, we can accept all adults’, childrens’ and babies’ clothes (excluding underwear) and shoes that are in good condition. We also accept bedding in good condition. We ask that the items are donated clean and dry and we sort through every donation before giving it out through the clothing bank. Please do not donate clothes that are torn or have large stains or pet hair on them, or shoes that are dirty.

We only accept new, unworn underwear that is in its original packaging. This includes socks.

We are not currently accepting donations of clothes.

If you’re interested in volunteering please contact melissa@thecourtneyfoundation.org for more information.

Yes, we do. We only buy 100% recyclable packaging, which is often also made partly or completely from recycled materials. This includes the stickers we use on our Baby and Children’s Boxes and any flyers or posters that we buy. We also reuse bags that people have donated clothes to us in. Redistributing preloved clothes locally is an environmentally friendly way to address poverty in Luton.