There are many ways you can donate your used books to benefit others. Here are some of the easiest UK schemes to donate to. These schemes either pass your books directly to readers who can benefit, or sell them on to raise funds for their charitable activities.
Morrisons Little Libraries
Launched in 2021, you can find these book stations in every Morrisons supermarket, where customers can donate children’s books and readers can pick up a book for free.
Children’s Book Project
This charity takes donations of children’s books via their registered locations (mainly schools) across the UK to pass on to young readers. Books must be in excellent condition. NB They are not able to take text books or ex library books. Take a look at the website for locations and details of what each partner is specifically looking for.
British Heart Foundation BHF
Donate your books and the BHF charity will sell them on for fund raising. You can donate by dropping off at a BHF shop, or via their freepost Collect+ service, or you may be able to arrange a collection. Available methods depend on your location and the type/number of items you have, so check out the current guidelines on their website.
Oxfam
Take your books to any Oxfam charity shop and they will sell them on either through the shop or via their online bookshop. Visit their website to find your nearest Oxfam shop.
Cancer Research UK
Cancer Research UK have around 600 shops around the UK where you can donate your books. They’ll be sold on through the shops or via their eBay store, with proceeds going to fund their research programmes.
Book Banks
These are the big deposit boxes you typically see in larger supermarket car parks. Just post your books into the box and they’ll be picked up and donated to their specified charities. Clicking the link will take you to the Recycle More website where you can search for your nearest book banks. Enter your postcode then select Books from the items list above the map.
Sue Ryder Shops
The Sue Ryder charity provides palliative, neurological and bereavement support. Their 400 shops across the country are happy to receive your book donations for fund raising via the shops and eBay.
Age UK
Age UK provide a great range of services from practical home help, social and welfare services to health and dementia support, You can take books to Age UK’s 400 charity shops across the country for funding raising resale. Click the picture to find your nearest shop.
Save the Children UK
Save the Children work internationally to provide education, food and medical aid to children in need. In the UK they support families and community groups, as well as campaigning for legislation and Government funding for children’s services. Click through to find their nearest charity shop where you can donate books.
Sense
Sense provide support for people with complex disabilities, helping them communicate and take part in life. Sense can take donations using their freepost service via Collect+, or you can drop items off at their 100 charity shops across England and Wales.
Give a Book scheme for prisons
The Royal Society of Literature partner with Give a Book to enable donations of books direct to UK prisons. In particular they are in need of foreign language books. Details of how to donate your books and the languages in short supply can be found via the RSL website.
Incidentally you can also benefit charities with your secondhand books by selling them to Music Magpie or Ziffit. These online book buyers both provide the option of giving your proceeds direct to your chosen charity. Check out my post on Online Secondhand Book Buyers