Charity Bags/Semi Retired

Baldytyke88

I am ending my employment in Dec 2026 and hoping to carry on doing some sort of work, I will be 65.

I have my own van, which I am thinking about insuring for business use, possibly on a weekly basis.

I am sure there is always a demand for multi-drop delivery drivers, but the charity bag delivery/collection seems more flexible. Any thoughts?

Grumpy_chap

If you are collecting bags for a reputable charity, would you not be giving your time and effort on a voluntary basis?

Baldytyke88

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82057530#Comment_82057530

No, I am poor. I believe most of them either use PAYE or self-employed drivers.

p00hsticks

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82057530#Comment_82057530

I'm not sure most (any?) reputable charities use this method of gathering donations. All the bags we get tend to mention sone sort of good cause (although rarely an actual headline charity) in large letters but then state in small print that the company producing the bags and collecting the goods will actually just donate a vey small percentage of the funds raised to that charity.

I never fill them on principle - if I want to donate goods then I'll drop them off in person at the local charity shop or contact the charity directly to see if they'll collect them.

Baldytyke88

It seems that there are online ways to donate, I am more familiar with people dropping bags off at every house and then collecting a few days later.

Major charities like Oxfam and Barnardo's use standard postal infrastructure. They mail you a bag, and you drop the filled bag off at a local Post Office or DPD drop-off point for free.

Savvy_Sue

Certainly SOME charities have their own drivers, who may be employed, but they'd supply the van.

And have you checked what business insurance would actually cost, especially for delivery / collection services?

lincroft1710

Unless you are dealing with streets where houses have no front gardens, there will be a lot of walking involved delivering the bags.

sheramber

Charity bags are delivered here by someone

Answering an advert for people to deliver leaflets, charity bags etc.

The person running the operation then comes round in his van to collect any bags.

One operation leave a postcard saying to fill any bags and leave it outside with the card attached to it.

These are companies who sell the stuff abroad and give a small percentage to the charity concerned.

British Heart Foundation collect in their vans but usually furniture.

Ditzy_Mitzy

You might consider an inquiry to your local parish magazine or free advertising paper as they often use paid delivery-people. I used to work with someone who did it as a second job; process was fairly basic, in that the magazines would be dropped off at his place and then he would then deliver one to each house within his round. It was pretty much flexible, other than a requirement to complete delivery of the batch by a set date.

The work didn't pay much, mind, but it did pay.