Dirty underwear among items donated to charity

A leading Horsham charity has been inundated with household donations during lockdown - but some of them have been distinctly unwanted.

Among items left at Horsham Matters’ donation centre in Blatchford Road have been broken crockery, mouldridden kitchen utensils - and soiled underwear.

Horsham Matters operations manager Mike Pell said: “With lockdown, people have had more time on their hands and they’ve had a sort-out and unfortunately we have seen an increase in undesirable items.”

He said he thought some people were dumping their rubbish at the centre, instead of at Horsham’s waste tip, because of ‘laziness’.

“There have been reports of people queing for an hour and a half to get into the Hop Oast recycling centre. People think they can drop it here, or at any other charity, instead.”

He said he knew of similar problems at Southwater Children’s Society shop and the Salvation Army.

He said Horsham Matters was always delighted to receive items in a ‘reasonable condition’ that could be sold. “If it’s sellable, it’s fine. Some items end up in our superstore and we use the money from sales to fund our charitable work.”

The charity, which says it is thankful for people’s generosity, keeps a supply of second-hand goods, such as kitchenware, crockery and furniture, to help people who are housed in temporary accommodation.

“If items are not up to scratch we have to take them to the tip ourselves.” He said that proved time-consuming because they had to go to a Viridor site in Crawley.

To see which items can be donated and opening times, visit the charity’s website at www.horsham-matters.com