Unwanted Christmas Gifts Could Help Transform the Lives of Neglected Animals

Remus Horse Sanctuary, located in the heart of Essex, is calling on the public to donate unwanted Christmas gifts this January to support its ongoing mission to rescue and rehabilitate horses, ponies, and other animals in need, like Holly pictured. With a simple donation of unwanted items, supporters can help make a real difference at the Sanctuary, which has been providing care for more than 40 years.

Every year, millions of pounds’ worth of unwanted gifts go unused or are discarded across the UK. By donating these items to Remus Horse Sanctuary, supporters can help raise vital funds to feed and care for animals who have suffered neglect, abuse, or abandonment. The Sanctuary, which relies entirely on public generosity, turns these donations into much-needed resources through sales, raffles, and events.

The Sanctuary also welcomes practical gifts like towels, blankets, and cleaning supplies, which directly benefit the animals’ care. Remus is home to more than 100 rescued animals, many requiring ongoing medical treatment and specialised diets. The rising cost of living has made public support more critical than ever, ensuring the Sanctuary can continue its essential work.

Sue Burton, Founder of Remus Horse Sanctuary, said: “By donating your unwanted Christmas gifts, you’re not just clearing out your cupboards – you’re giving hope and a second chance to animals who have endured unimaginable suffering. Every contribution, no matter how small, has the power to change lives.”

Unwanted gifts and donations can be dropped off at the Sanctuary any day between 10am and 4pm until the end of January.

Remus Horse Sanctuary is currently raising funds via its Winter Appeal on JustGiving at: www.justgiving.com/campaign/remuswinterappeal2024.

Please Donate your Unwanted Gifts to Remus

We’re urging people to donate their unwanted Christmas presents to the charity!

We all receive the odd gift that we don’t like or wouldn’t buy for ourselves, but rather than throwing these presents away or sticking them in a drawer, you could help Remus to rescue and rehabilitate more horses and other animals across Southern England.

An unwanted Christmas present will be a delight to someone else, and we can make good use of the unwanted gifts at our sales, fundraising events, raffles and tombolas throughout the year.

Additionally, any other items in a good saleable condition can also be sold, such as clothing and bric-a-brac.

Research from WhatWeWant last month revealed that over half (53%) of UK adults have received unwanted gifts over the past 12 months. And while some are resourceful enough to regift the ill-fated presents or take them to a charity shop, one in five (20%) are guilty of binning the gifts without using them! And, as we say, we can make very good use of them.

So, don’t bin your unwanted present, donate it to Remus instead!

Drop-offs can be made to the Sanctuary near Ingatestone between 10am and 4pm, any day of the week, throughout January. You can find confirmation of our address (and directions) on our website here.

Please Donate Your Unwanted Presents to a Good Cause

Sue Burton, Founder of Remus Horse Sanctuary, is urging people to donate their unwanted Christmas presents to the charity. Drop-offs can be made to the Sanctuary near Ingatestone between 10am and 2pm, any day of the week, throughout January.

An unwanted Christmas present will be a delight to someone else, and Remus Horse Sanctuary can make good use of the unwanted gifts at their sales, fundraising events, raffles and tombolas throughout the year. Additionally, any other items in a good saleable condition can also be dropped off at the Sanctuary during January.

Unwanted gift cards can be exchanged with ‘Give a Gift’ introduced in 2016. Give a Gift help turn £1 billion of wasted gift cards into donations for charities, such as Remus Horse Sanctuary. An unwanted gift card can be exchanged for one you really want and do some good at the same time, by donating a percentage of the unused gift card to Remus and swapping the rest for a new gift card of your choice. Find out more via the Remus website here: https://www.remussanctuary.org/how-to-make-best-use-of-gift-cards/.

A pre-Christmas poll by a leading children’s charity revealed that almost 250,000 people across five London boroughs were likely to “dismiss unsuitable gifts this year and would throw them away”. Whilst a YouGov survey identified that the least desirable presents were ‘selfie sticks’, musical socks, bathroom scales and animal slippers!  Many people will face issues trying to return items at full price with little chance of a similar exchange with mixed stock available, not to mention the lengthy queues! Furthermore, Royal Mail were predicting that on what it calls Take-back Tuesday there would be a rise of more than 50% in returns against December’s daily average. Remus Horse Sanctuary offers a viable alternative.

Remus’ Founder Sue Burton says, “We all receive the odd gift that we don’t like or wouldn’t buy for ourselves. But rather than throwing these presents away or sticking them in a drawer, you can help Remus to rescue and rehabilitate more horses and other animals across Southern England”.

For confirmation of the address and directions, click here or contact Sue Burton on tel: 01277 356191.