TPPSG members offer their hot tips

Google ‘Posh Charity Shops’ and you get locations almost exclusively in the W and SW post codes. But there’s good hunting nearer home as well. And while adults bag bargains, children get a much bigger bang for their pocket money buck.
You can’t use these places for anything neededimmediately, but you can always unearth cut price raw material for upcycling into new garments, jewellery and more. Theyare ideal for locating the makings of fancy dress and school play outfits, and if you plan ahead, you can stock up on items which you know will be needed – grey school uniform trousers anyone?

Tufnell Park
London Centre For Children with Cerebral Palsy – 124 Fortess Road, Tufnell Park NW5 2HP
Being the only charity shop in the immediate Tufnell Park tube area, the shop is over-brimming with a plentiful supply of donated clothes, bric-a-brac, toys, books, baby items and DVDs/CDs. While reasonably organised, the stock is not as ruthlessly edited, or priced, as some larger charity shops, which makes a rummage around both fun and rewarding. One TPPSG family calls it The Toyshop so a good stopoff for young ones.

Holloway and Around
TRAID – 375 Holloway Road N7 0RN and 154 Camden High Street NW1 0NE
A charity which funds international development projects by turning discarded garments into interesting new outfits which it sells through its shops.
Cancer Research UK – 374 Holloway Road N7 6PN
Next to Argos on Holloway Road, good mixed shop.
Scope – 46 Seven Sisters Road N7 6AA
If you want to drop stuff you can use the Morrisons car park.
Sense – 57 Seven Sisters Road N7 6BH
Opposite Scope, good for kids’ stuff such as those grey trousers for school.
Bright Sparks – 176 Seven Sisters Rd, London N7 7PX
Islington’s Re-use and Repair project collects and sells furniture and bric-a-brac, along with small electrical items brought back to life including those left on the electrical shelves at the Islington recycling centre. (Also do small electrical repairs.)
Kindness Offensive HQ – 273 Camden Road N7 0JN
At the end of Dalmeny Road, a project in an old pub, offering free books which would otherwise be thrown away.

Archway
Second Chance – 7-9 St John’s Way, Archway N19 3QS
A great independent charity shop which sells pretty much everything it receives with good range of clothes, books and knick knacks.Passes on unsold clothes to their homeless shelter.Has just undergone refurbishment so better than ever.
Marie Curie – 29 Junction Road, Archway N19
Some decent books, OK adult clothing, but all children’s clothes, toys and even baby buggies go directly to landfill, as do the majority of other donations.

Highgate
Mary’s Living and Giving Shop – Save the Children–43 Highgate High Street N6 5JX,
138 Upper Street N1 1QP, and 109 Regents Park Road NW1 8UR (Primrose Hill)
Mary Portas’ more lifestyle version of charity shops, to be run by local people as community hubs and idea and information exchanges. Higher end donations so more expensive than most.
Oxfam Bookshop – 47 Highgate High Street N6 5JX plus Crouch End 22 Park Road, N8 8TD
Usually some interesting toys along with good books. Across the road are clothes and other offerings.Crouch End branch regularly gets new stock and you can browse easily under subject headings. Also has some cds and dvds etc. Oxfam operates a Tag Your Bag scheme so sale value of donations is grossed up by Gift Aid. Also send a statement of donated sales value every six months which can be deducted on tax returns if you file one. However, some feel the books tend to be overpriced and there are concerns about their involvement with the Nectar card.
Cancer Research – 72 Highgate High Street N6 5HX
High prices compared to the competition and some brusque, bordering on rude, staff.
The Mind Shop – 329 Archway Road N6 5AA
Second hand clothes, books, giftware and antiquarian items. Lovely staff reported.

Kentish Town
National Hereditary Breast Cancer 205 Kentish Town Road NW5 2JU
New, with plenty of clothing, large amount of bric-à-brac, household items and some small electrical items.
Age UK- 247 Kentish Town Rd NW5 2JT
Reports of nice clothes, and that they will collect from your home.
PDSA- 249 Kentish Town Rd NW5 2JT
Not dissimilar, supporting the charity which provides vet care for animals whose owners are on benefits.
Further Afield
FARA Kids – 83 Regents Park Road NW1 8UY
Supporting Romanian children, specialises in items for children and the smart location means pickings are likely to be good.
Octavia Foundation (previously Notting Hill Housing) 33 South End Road, Belsize Park NW3 2PY
Connects people affected by unemployment, ill health, social isolation or low incomes with opportunities for positive change. Again the location means good hunting ground and they pride themselves on offering vintage and designer items.

Donations only
Crossroads – 25 Wolsey Mews NW5 2DX (off Caversham Road)
Women’s refuge which also works for refugees, donations going directly to where needed.Happy with donations of household items including cooking, and any clothes including children’s and men’s. Always looks closed but ring the bell or call 020 7482 2496.