I tried Christmas shopping at a charity shop and parents should give it a try

With Christmas approaching, the Age UK shop down Newland Avenue is encouraging locals to pop in to pick up a festive bargain.

Age UK claims to have presents for even the hardest-to-please recipient, party outfits, and accessories. However, I felt unsure about the etiquette of buying second hand gifts so I paid a visit hoping to be proven wrong.

For myself, I am happy to buy second-hand if it is quality material. Almost all my clothes are from vintage shops or charity shops, but I couldn't imagine any gift recipients being thrilled by the gesture. Also, buying clothes for anyone is a minefield. How do you guess their size?

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I decided to have a look at the non-clothing options to see if I could find gift inspiration. I spotted a floral patterned wallet with its original box and certainly seemed to be in like-new condition.

Moving along to the next area, I noticed a whole stack of goodies. The Age UK shop has a selection of new products that are rather nice. Tartan umbrellas - always a good idea in this climate - were hanging from a hook and there was also a good selection of new and boxed children's toys.

I thought the Bluey "mould and play" looked fun and there was also a selection of toys called Block Tech Block Builder which came with 50 bricks and a little case to keep them tidy which also doubles up as the foundation of any constructions.

Another great find was a sealed DVD of Raymond Briggs' Father Christmas (1991). This animated film of a curmudgeonly Father Christmas going on holiday to France is more fun than The Snowman (1982) in my opinion. If not quite the gut-wrenching masterpiece of Ethel and Ernest (2016), it is a bargain at 99p.

I also found a WH Smith 1,000 piece jigsaw puzzle for £2.99. It depicted a Santa's Grotto scene but still looked a lot more fun than the Dracula puzzle I tried a few years ago, in which nearly every piece was a subtle shade of black. With a new 1,000 piece puzzle costing upwards of £15, I don't even mind if one piece turns out to be missing.

While I still haven't been convinced clothing is the way to go for Christmas shopping, I was happy with my purchase. I think there are some definite stocking fillers to be had that could bulk out the rest of your Christmas present shopping.

Age UK also has a very impressive online store and its "Mystery Boxes" genuinely excited me. Each Mystery Box is full of new products donated by corporate supporters. Most of them only cost £19.99 but the contents are guaranteed to be worth at least double.

For instance, the boys' 4-7 Stocking Filler can contain a Spiderman 'web launcher' toy, a Premier League trading card game, Marble Run, Dino Egg Smash and Dig, and more.

The girls' one has examples such as pink headphones, a Lilo and Stitch handbag, and bracelet making crafts. There are also boxes for men, women, teens, and craft-lovers.

And there is a poignant reason to support the charity, especially at this time of year. Age UK said that in 2023 it found that nearly 1.4 million of those 65 and over said they felt more isolated at Christmas than any other time of the year.

Lisa Spinks, Manager at the Age UK Newland Avenue shop, said: “We’re excited for Christmas and have a wide range of clothes, toys, books and other items that could make individual gifts for family and friends. Not only will you be picking up a bargain, you’ll also be helping Age UK raise funds to continue supporting lonely older people. Please pop in and support the Charity this Christmas so that we can help change the lives of older people and show them that together, we’re not alone."