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Where can I donate a wheelchair apart from the tip?

(16 Posts)
MT62 Tue 16-Jun-26 19:58:09

Our local tip has a charity shop ( probably money goes to the council) but they have a lot of disability aid type equipment.
If you have garden front you could place a card on the chair saying ‘free to good home’
Like one gran said, try a care home.

fancythat Tue 16-Jun-26 19:47:18

Any friends or relatives interested in it?

Failing that, you could put it outside your house.
It will likely disappear within 48 hours.

NotSpaghetti Tue 16-Jun-26 19:46:03

Charleygirl5 most of my mother-in-law's equipment was from the NHS.
In our area we just call the company who brought them out to her and they take them back, service them, clean them and pass on to someone else.

As soon as she didn't need the chair raisers, the mo-lift etc they collected them.
After she died I called them and they were out (by appointment) in two days to collect.

I wish all areas could do this.

Fairislecable Tue 16-Jun-26 19:45:18

Thank you for all the suggestions Salvation Army said possible but I would need to take it 25 miles.

Wheels to heal not for this area but we have lots of nursing homes so I am sure that if they don’t need it they will know someone who does.

I did suggest putting it in the loft but that was vetoed by the man who would have to get it up there 😆

Charleygirl5 Tue 16-Jun-26 19:03:50

Have you thought of keeping it as you may need it when you are older. My shed is full of items, eg a Zimmer frame which I used post surgery and as I am now using a rollator, I may need to use it indoors if my mobility problems decrease

NotSpaghetti Tue 16-Jun-26 18:46:57

Just googled international charities and found these:
​Wheels to Heal: A fantastic charity that collects thousands of wheelchairs, cleans them up, and ships them to developing nations. They even offer a free uplift service for many areas or allow you to drop it off.
​PhysioNet: Based in North Yorkshire but covering mainland UK, they take in functional mobility equipment and look after the logistics of sending it to people in need overseas.
​Limbcare / DESO (Disabled Equipment Sent Overseas): Both charities take gently used mobility items and transport them to individuals who otherwise have no independent access to them.

NotSpaghetti Tue 16-Jun-26 18:46:03

Oh yes.
Other ideas:

The Salvation Army
​Age UK

NotSpaghetti Tue 16-Jun-26 18:42:47

I bought two wheelchairs last summer - one from Gumtree and one from Facebook Marketplace. One was for inside only.

I paid about a third of the new price.
I looked at some on Ebay and they sold before I could get sorted to buy them.

We also have a charity locally that recycles wheelchairs and other mobility equipment.

Not sure where you are in the country but probably a local disability charity would be happy to have it.

HelterSkelter1 Tue 16-Jun-26 18:31:31

What a lovely result AuntieE. I expect that made you smile at a time when you no doubt didn't feel like smiling.

AuntieE Tue 16-Jun-26 17:57:00

My husband bought a stationary excercise bike a month or so before he died, as he at that point still believed he would get better.

I advertised it, but when no-one was interested I e-mailed the local care home and asked if they could use it, and made it quite clear that I was willing to give them it.

Matron was overwehlmingly grateful and said the psyiotherapists would be too, as they were straining their backs carting the only one the home had from one end of the building to the other.

So I would suggest asking a care facility unless you know someone going to Ukraine any time soon - they can use all the medical equipment we no longer need, of that you can be sure.

misb Tue 16-Jun-26 17:36:25

Yes,the Red Cross is the place to donate your wheelchair. I have borrowed from them in the past for two relatives. Once in N.
Ireland and once in Dublin. They were a godsend in both cases.
I am sure the Red Cross will be delighted with your offer.

Witzend Tue 16-Jun-26 17:36:22

Local Freecycle?
Facebook marketplace (you can say it’s free to collect)

Fairislecable Tue 16-Jun-26 17:30:15

Ooh! That is a very good suggestion there are quite a few a few nearby hopefully one of them will find it useful.

Casdon Tue 16-Jun-26 17:28:38

You could try the Red Cross. They hire out wheelchairs, and will accept donations of lightly used ones, in my area anyway.

MiniMoon Tue 16-Jun-26 17:26:08

Have you tried approaching your local nursing/residential care homes? They might be glad of it.

Fairislecable Tue 16-Jun-26 17:22:45

I was injured last year and a friend of my DD gave me his unused wheelchair. He had bought it brand new and used it for 4 weeks only.

I used it for 3 weeks and now wish to pass it on.

On Facebook marketplace they don’t seem to sell even free, and local charity shops can’t deal with them.

It feels such a terrible waste to take to the tip. I would like to hear of any suggestions?