Charity Shops in Sunderland

Charity shops are one of the easiest ways to shop more sustainably and support a good cause at the same time. You can pick up clothes, books, toys and homeware at low prices, and every sale helps fund the charity's work. They are also the obvious place to take things you no longer need, as long as they are clean and in good condition. This guide lists five charity shops in Sunderland, Washington and Houghton-le-Spring whose addresses and opening times we have checked on the charities' own websites in November 2026, grouped by area so you can plan a route. Opening times can change at short notice, especially when shops rely on volunteers, so check the charity's website before making a special trip with donations.

City centre: British Heart Foundation, Blandford Street

The British Heart Foundation shop is at 37 Blandford Street, one of the main shopping streets between The Bridges and Holmeside. It sells clothing, shoes and accessories alongside books, toys, homeware and cards. It opens from 9.30am to 5pm Monday to Saturday and from 10am to 4pm on Sundays, so it is open seven days a week. The British Heart Foundation also runs a booking service for collections of furniture and electrical items, which is useful if you are clearing a house or replacing a sofa.

Best for: Suits city-centre shoppers, Sunday browsers and anyone with furniture or electricals to give away.

City centre: Salvation Army, Blandford Street

A few doors along, the Salvation Army charity shop is at 23 Blandford Street. Money raised through Salvation Army Trading supports the charity's work, which includes homelessness services, addiction support and help for families. The shop's page on the Salvation Army website does not give opening times, so call in during normal shop hours or ask in store. Having two charity shops on the same street makes Blandford Street a good starting point for a morning's browsing.

Best for: Suits people already shopping on Blandford Street who want to look round more than one charity shop in one trip.

North Sunderland: Sue Ryder, Sea Road

On the north side of the river, the Sue Ryder shop is at 42 Sea Road in Fulwell. It sells clothing, books and bric-a-brac, and accepts donations in store during opening hours, which are 9.15am to 4.45pm from Monday to Saturday. The shop has disabled access. Sue Ryder provides palliative, neurological and bereavement support, and the shop's income goes towards that care. Sea Road has a good range of independent shops and cafes, so it is easy to combine a visit with other errands, and the Seaburn seafront is a short walk away.

Best for: Suits people in Fulwell, Seaburn and Southwick, and anyone who wants a step-free shop to drop off donations.

Houghton-le-Spring: Marie Curie, Newbottle Street

In Houghton-le-Spring, the Marie Curie shop is at 46 Newbottle Street, the town's main shopping street. It sells clothing, books, toys, homeware and cards, and opens from 9am to 4.30pm Monday to Saturday and 10am to 4pm on Sundays. Marie Curie provides nursing and hospice care for people living with a terminal illness, and the shop is part of how it funds that work.

Best for: Suits shoppers in Houghton, Hetton and Shiney Row, and anyone looking for a charity shop open on a Sunday outside the city centre.

Washington: British Heart Foundation, The Galleries

In Washington, the British Heart Foundation shop is at 6 The Galleries, the town's indoor shopping centre. Like the Blandford Street shop it sells clothing, books, homeware and other donated goods, and it opens from 9.30am to 5pm Monday to Saturday. Because it is inside a shopping centre with its own car parking, it is easy to reach by car with a boot full of donations.

Best for: Suits people in Washington and anyone combining charity shopping with a trip to The Galleries.

Donating well

Charity shops can only sell what they can safely put on the shelf. Clothes should be clean and bagged, and electrical items generally need to go through a charity's dedicated collection service rather than being left at a shop, because they must be safety tested. Never leave bags outside a shop when it is closed, as they are often damaged or taken. If you are a UK taxpayer, ask about Gift Aid when you donate: it lets the charity claim an extra 25p for every pound your goods raise.

For larger items or anything the shops cannot take, the council runs household waste and recycling centres, and our guide to council services in Sunderland covers recycling centres, bulky collections and bin days.

Know a charity shop we have missed? Get in touch.