Knowing what items are needed the most in the West Midlands
Across the West Midlands, many charities and community groups collect donated items to support people who are at risk of homelessness, experiencing poverty, or rebuilding their lives after a period without stable housing. A warm coat, basic groceries, or a set of household essentials can be the first small step towards stability. These everyday items help people meet immediate needs while also supporting the wider goals of the West Midlands Combined Authority’s Positive Pathway model, which focuses on helping people move from crisis towards independence.
By donating useful items, you are helping local organisations provide the practical foundation that allows other kinds of support, such as housing advice, skills training, and wellbeing services, to take root. Each contribution plays a part in creating a consistent, joined-up approach across the region, one that values dignity, choice, and opportunity at every stage of the journey.
Below, you’ll find details of the items that are most needed right now and how to donate them.
Birmingham based Organisations
St Chad’s Sanctuary in Birmingham offers a welcoming space for refugees and asylum seekers, providing essential items, English lessons, and kind support to help people rebuild their lives in a new community. They currently need donations of toiletries and clothing to continue caring for their guests. They do not need food at the moment. You can see what is needed most right now and how to get it to them by visiting their website or emailing info@stchadssanctuary.com. It’s also worth signing up for their regular email updates, which share news and current needs as they arise.
WAITS are in need of period products so they can provide them to the women accessing their service who are refugees or seeking Aslyum in the UK.
Contact them to find out how to deliver the items. Full contact details are found on their website but you can email waitsaction.enquiries@gmail.com
Crisis Skylight Birmingham are holding their Christmas activities for members are would welcome donations via their Amazon Wishlist. Crisis is the national charity supporting people out of homelessness.
St Basil’s support young people aged 16-25 experiencing homelessness. They are in particular need of new, unopened single bedding sets and single bedsheets. They can be dropped off at: One William Booth Lane, Birmingham, West Midlands, B4 6HA
9am – 5pm, Monday – Friday or email their friendly fundraising team to organise a collection of multiple sets: fundraising@stbasils.org.uk
Birmingham City Mission provides practical support and Christian care to people in need across Birmingham, including those experiencing homelessness, poverty, or social isolation. They are looking for new toys for the families they support. Find out more on their website.
Coventry based Organisations
Baby Godiva baby bank are always in need of the following items: Nappies (all sizes); Wipes; First formula milk; Maternity pads; Breast pads; Disposable underwear; Cotton wool; Changing mats; Clothing (newborn/ first size); Baby toiletries; Cot and/ or moses basket bedding. Find out how to donate via their website.
Bardsley Youth Project help equip young people’s first independent accommodation after homelessness. As a result they are always in need of good quality second-hand furniture, men’s and women’s clothing (coats, jumpers, warm trousers, socks etc. in the winter months and summer clothes like t-shirts in the warmer months), new un-opened toiletries for men and women and, in date (sealed) tinned, packet and other cupboard foods.
Call 07943688760 to arrange drop off. The project are based at Bardsley House, near the cathedral, for directions please click here.
Thinking of donating furniture to Bardsley Youth Project? Find out more about furniture donation and FREE collection here.
Carriers of Hope CIO provides practical support to newly arrived migrants, helping families settle into their new homes. They’re currently welcoming donations of furniture, food, and household essentials. You can visit their website to see what items are most needed, which ones they’re unable to accept, and how to arrange a delivery.
FoodCycle Coventry is a community dining project that runs free community meals every week. They are in need of vegetarian staple food items such as pasta, rice, flour, sugar, tinned tomatoes, and seasonings. They can be dropped off at St Peter’s Hillfields Church between 11am and 2:30pm on Wednesdays (excluding the last 2 weeks of December), or contact coventry@foodcycle.org.uk
Dudley based Organisations
Black Country Foodbank provides much needed support around food poverty to families in Dudley, Walsall and Sandwell. They rely on donations to ensure that they can supply the many families who use their services across the region every week. Find out what they are short of and how to donate items here. You can also join their mailing list to be kept up to date about their work.
During the months of November and December they have a Christmas specific shopping list and reverse advent calendar scheme. Find out more about this here
Manna House Pantry is a community grocer. Each month they post on their facebook page the items most needed that month to stock up their supplies.
Items for the month of December are table sauces and jams
Provision House supports people facing financial hardship by offering training, work experience, affordable furniture, and household essentials to help them rebuild stability and confidence.
They would love you to donate your unwanted items such as clothing, homeware, household items and furniture. You can visit their website to see what items they accept and how to arrange delivery.
Sandwell based Organisations
The Dorothy Parkes Centre run Dotties Community Fridge, a community grocer serving the local area. They would love donations of surplus food.
Contact them by phone or email +44 (0)121 558 2998 admin@dorothyparkes.org to find out what items are needed most and how to arrange delivery.
Great Barr Foodbank is part of the Trussell network. They keep their website up to date with a list of the most needed items and how to arrange delivery.
The items most needed in December are Tinned Fruit, Teabags, Dried Pasta, Long Life Milk, and Sugar
The Mabel Black Country CIC baby bank provide much needed items for new parents. They have an amazon wish list detailing the items they need. You can also get in touch with them to arrange donating items in an alternative way via email mabelblackcountry@gmail.com
Solihull based Organisations
North Solihull Foodbank is part of the Trussell Network. They keep their website up to date with a list of the most needed items and how to arrange delivery.
The items most needed in December are Long-life milk, coffee, hot chocolate, squash or juice, tinned fruit, custard or rice pudding, savoury snacks, tinned meat or fish, curry or pasta sauces, soup, vegetables, and beans, dried pasta or rice, chocolate or sweet treats, toiletries (such as shampoo, shower gel, toothpaste, deodorant, hand soap, and toilet paper), and carrier bags.
Walsall based Organisations
The Glebe is run by YMCA Black Country and provides help and support to vulnerable people. The Glebe have an amazon wish list detailing the items they need the most which includes laundry detergent and clean underwear.
Tots in Need CIC is a baby bank and accept anything suitable for a baby from newborn to the age of one. Such as pushchairs, moses baskets, toiletries, nappies, blankets, bottles, toys, clothing, equipment. Tots in Need accept donations between 9am – 6pm everyday of the week at 9 Yelverton Close, Bloxwich, WS3 3XE (If nobody is in, there’s a designated area – huge porch). Tots In Need also accept donations to Old School Buildings, Church Road, Pelsall, WS3 4QW, however, drop offs must be booked via text or call as the team are always out and about.
Contact details are 07538 209366 and Tots.in.need@gmail.com
Walsall North Foodbank is part of the Trussell network. A shopping list on their website shows the food items that that are needed right now and where you can take donations. Items most needed in December include Tinned fruit, long-life fruit juice, tinned vegetables (peas, carrots, sweetcorn; no pulses at the moment), puddings, small jars of coffee, long-life milk, washing powder, washing-up liquid, toilet rolls, razors and shaving foam, deodorant, shampoo, and shower gel.
Wolverhampton based Organisations.
Hope Community Project supports people who are experiencing extreme poverty in the Heath Town area of the city. They accept donations of food, drink, clothing and toiletries which they can the distribute throught their food bank, clothing bank and food pantry scheme. Donations can be delivered them to their centre Monday- Thursday 10am-3pm.
Address is 40 Ling House, Long Ley, Heath Town, Wolverhampton, WV10 0HH. There is limited parking outside. If you would like to give them a call first, that would be appreciated.
Tel: 01902 556645
Periods Matter supports women and families in Wolverhampton with period products and other essential items. Donate period products: They welcome donations of items with open arms! Items can be donated via one of their collection points, by contacting them on hello@periodsmatter.co.uk or via their Amazon List.
St Vincent de Paul Society – Wolverhampton (SVP) are part of a nationwide charity supporting people experiencing poverty in all its forms. This is mainly through befriending and practical assistance. The team are often contacted by people experiencing food poverty. The SVP would welcome donations of Supermarket Gift cards such as for Aldi, Asda, or FarmFoods to distribute to their beneficiaries. It gives the opportunity for them to choose the items they need or like from the supermarket. To donate a gift card, you could purchase one digitally and send it to SecretaryF021402@svp.org.uk or contact the group via that email to arrange delivery of a physical gift card.
Every donation, no matter how small, helps someone in the West Midlands take a step towards safety, comfort, and independence. These contributions strengthen the work already happening across the region, where community groups and volunteers are putting the Positive Pathway model into practice every day. Whether you give food, clothing, household items, or your time, you become part of a shared effort to design out homelessness and build places where everyone has the chance to thrive.
If you are from an organisation in the West Midlands whose services are preventing or relieving homelessness and are in need of items donated, we would love to hear from you and include them in our Give Help posts. Get in touch westmidlands@streetsupport.net