Christmas is the time of giving and thousands of presents were gifted by people around Wiltshire on Christmas Day - but not all of them will be wanted.

We’ve all been there, opening that present on Christmas morning with a polite smile and then hiding Aunty Mary’s jumper in the back of the wardrobe forevermore.

According to a 2022 survey by Which?, one in four people in the UK received a Christmas gift that they didn’t want last year, and many were guilty of shoving these unwanted treasures into the depths of their cupboards.

Instead of hiding away your unwanted presents and taking up space this year, one Swindon charity is encouraging locals to donate their unwanted gifts instead.

Swindon locals can drop off their unwanted Christmas presents to any Prospect Hospice charity shop, and turn that ugly jumper into a lifeline for those in need.

The Wiltshire Gazette and Herald: Assistant manager of Tadpole Village Prospect, Katie, says they are welcoming unwanted gifts.Assistant manager of Tadpole Village Prospect, Katie, says they are welcoming unwanted gifts. (Image: Prospect Hospice)

"It’s a way to say goodbye to clutter and hello to making a difference,” explained Victoria Canavan, head of retail at Prospect Hospice.

“Instead of hoarding those duplicate gifts or letting those questionable clothes take up precious real estate in your home, consider giving them a new lease on life at one of our 17 charity shops or our eBay shop.

“Generosity like that is what keeps our charity shops brimming with fabulous finds,” she added.

Prospect provides end-of-life care and family support for over 300,000 people in Swindon and Wiltshire, and donations to charity shops are the main thing keeping the vital charity running.

The Wiltshire Gazette and Herald: Prospect now have 17 charity shops in Swindon and North Wiltshire.Prospect now have 17 charity shops in Swindon and North Wiltshire. (Image: Newsquest)

“A lot of people think that our hospice is completely funded by the NHS, but actually less than 25 per cent of our funding comes from the NHS,” said CEO Jeremy Lune.

“Most of our funding comes from shops like this, and it is the community allowing us to support the community."

The care on offer is tailored to the needs of each individual when they need it most, and includes clinical, emotional and practical support for patients and their families, either at home, at the hospice in Wroughton, or in care homes.

This is offered completely free of charge, thanks to Prospect’s 13 shops in Swindon, as well as stores in Royal Wootton Bassett, Marlborough, Pewsey.

For a full list of which unwanted presents can and can’t be donated, as well as where to find your local charity shop, you can head to Prospect Hospice’s website.