My favourite charity shop on Copson Street - a street swarming with them! The main reason for this…read moreis the manner of the staff. I've occasionally been met with less than enthusiastic responses from other charity shops on that strip when off loading personal donations (be it clothes/toys/games). Help the aged have always taken such donations without any hint of malice (yes - can you believe I've given thousand yard stares by the proprietors of other stores when attempting to donate a bin bag full of decent donationsit's not as though I'm selling crack to them is it?). Besides at least Help the Aged belongs in this decade unlike the other relics further towards the Wilmslow Road end of Copson Street. Perhaps not quite Oxfam territory but the prices are far more reasonable that that shop. They usually have a good set of clothes (usually females fare better for clothes in charity shops than men - their clothes are usually bequeathed from boredom whilst ours are off the backs of the recently deceased. Still, recycling is a good thing.) Books and the usual bizarre items (David Hasselhoff Candlesticks for example) are all set out here. Worth a visit for you bargain hunters out there.

Barnardo's is a charity store with all donations going towards children's causes. They believe in…read morechildren no matter who they are. For example, Barnardo's helps children recover from the horrors of abuse and faces their futures with real hope and confidence. It is now one of the UK's leading charities, if not the leading charity. This charity shop is somewhere you can go to buy the odd gift or item of clothing all at low prices and in good condition. The public are always welcome to donate cash or unwanted items to the shop as long as the condition of the item is acceptable. Every time I walk into charity shops, I'm tempted to buy something I don't really need and that's the attraction Barnardo's brings. You'll probably end up seeing something that catches your eye or spot something you know somebody else would be fond of. Barnardo's is no exception.

I love this shop & always manage to get some bargains when I go. They sell good quality second hand…read moreclothes, toys, books & bric a brac. They also always have a good range of furniture which is safety tested to comply with current regulations. I find it best for children's clothes & they are always very reasonably priced - I've picked tops up for 49p! They always have a large range of books from novels to reference books. The staff are really friendly & the shop itself is clean & tidy. The clothes are always freshly laundered as well. A great shop for bargains if you don't mind second hand & want to do your bit for charity.

Great shop that sells more bric a brac and furniture than clothing or books, but very reasonable…read morefor all of them. Parking behind and excellent if you're looking for a bargain and don't mind buying secondhand.

As my friends will tell you, I love a bargain. I have been known to buy things I don't need or even…read morelike, because they've been cheap. I always get a good feeling when I grab a bargain, more so when it's something I actually want. And when it's for charity, well that makes it even better! The Wes, as it is affectionately known by locals, runs entirely on donations and voluntary work and aims to help those who might not be able to afford to furnish their homes by offering everything they sell at incredibly low prices. A fridge will set you back £25, a washing machine £35 and you can pick up a double bed for £20. It's a great place to go if you're just setting up house; me and the boyf got a dining table with four chairs, and a bedside table, for £60. The dining set is incredible quality, and the chairs are very similar to ones sold in M&S for £150 a pair. Needless to say, I was pretty chuffed with that particular bargain. As well as a fantastic furniture section, the Wes has a great section of bric a brac, where we picked up two camping chairs for festival season for £10. This section sells clothes, shoes and household bits and bobs, and there is a great book section, with books from as little as 20p. The Wesley prides itself on supplying low price furniture "to those in greatest need from all over the City of Manchester". As if its low prices weren't enough, they also offer 'starter' packs for £50-80, for those who have very low incomes and who can get a referral letter from the council, or social services. These starter packs are a great resource for those who are really in need. The Wes is a fantastic hidden gem with a real heart of gold. All of the money spent on furniture here goes to the running of the centre, and it's such a good cause that it makes me feel even better about grabbing a bargain.

And yet another charity shop in Bolton. Seriously, these things are everywhere around Newport…read moreStreet! Cancer Research, apart from being a bloomin' great charity to support, have actually made quite a good job of this charity shop here on Newport Street. It's clean and spacious, has lovely, smiley staff and an excellent range of puzzles. Everyone loves a good puzzle. Furthermore, there are lots of trinkets here. You know, cups and sauces. Things for your mantelpiece. That kind of thing. The one mistake that Cancer Research have made with this otheriwse great charity shop is the lack of colour coding in the clothing section. I like to walk in to a charity shop and for the whole thing to look like a bloody great rainbow. An opportunity missed, I think.

In the face of Britain's aging population crisis, two of the biggest national age related charities…read morehave merged to make Age UK. These two charities were previously known as 'Age Concern' and 'Help the Aged' This shop has been here for years! They have one entrance on Telegraph Road, and the other inside Heswall Bus Station. Somehow I would always find myself wandering in if I had missed a bus. There're all sorts of bits and bobs in here. Loads of books and DVD's, video games, clothes and children's toys. As far as Heswall's charity shops go, this one and the Banardo's around the corner are well priced. With the Heswall Oxfam selling at extortionate prices, even if they are a charity shop! Age UK is fighting a good cause, not just for the respect and wellbeing for the elderly, but to provide for them when they have nobody else. I can't imagine how lonely some of them must be, so I try and buy a little something from here whenever I pass through!

A good not great charity shop just on the corner of Bury New Road; this is where you can find some…read morebargains but nothing life changing.. unless someone just gets there before me and I just need to be more sly?? I'd recommend having a quick look through their shoes plus some of their costume jewellery is cute (in the glass cabinet by the till). Why would you go to Topshop and pay for fakes when you can get the real thing that someone's grannie has donated? Back to the shoes- if you're willing to stand a little mark you can get some real gorgeous pairs. Lets face it, you'll wear them once and they'll be marked anyway.. The stock is always kept tidy and it feels brighter than most charity shops; they do normally have loads of VHS videos but I wonder if they don't finally take them down now we're in the midst of a "digital switchover"... There are two changing rooms which are ACTUAL rooms and not just a curtain in the corner.. although if that curtain is even the least bit open, people from the street would be able to see in. A bit disconcerting to say the least. One last note: the staff (well, volunteers) are pretty friendly except when they're about to shut..

Another good Charity Shop, I got a few books to keep me going but there wasn't many other bargins…read moreto be had, think I must have missed them all, They had lots of really nice baby clothes and toys, and some great gent suit in, everything was excellent quality and reasonably priced. Great shop and really friendly staff though, would definately call in again to see what they had, and knowing all your money is going to a good cause is great.