Charity shops rely on the kind donations of the British public but have been severely impacted by the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.

The latest lockdowns in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland have meant that many shops up and down the country were forced to close but there are still ways you can help.

Are charity shops open during lockdown?

All non-essential shops have been forced to close across all four UK nations.

Charity shops fall into this category meaning, along with most high-street shops, they have had to shut their doors.

Charities can follow the same rules around click-and-collect services, though, so can still trade if people order in advance.

People have been urged not to leave donations outside of shops as it will cause further problems for charity workers once they return. Items will also get damaged in the wet weather.

How to donate clothes to charity during lockdown

While dropping clothes to charity shops is out of the question, many charities have found alternative ways for people to donate.

British Heart Foundation is asking for donors to use its freepost service, with collection services currently unavailable.

They confirmed branches in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland have all closed but the freepost service is in place across the UK.

Oxfam has asked people to hold onto donations until shops reopen and suggest calling your local store when planning to donate to see if they have space once lockdown is lifted.

Cancer Research also take the same stance and, like many of the big-name charities, encourage those wanting to support them to use their online shop to buy items.

Another alternative to donate clothes during lockdown is through clothing banks.

Website Recycle Now have a handy search tool to help you find your nearest clothing bank but encourage you to check your local authority regarding opening times and closures.

When will charity shops reopen?

The current lockdown in England is expected to run until mid-February, while Scotland’s current restrictions run until the end of January.

Restrictions in Wales have no planned end date but are unlikely to end in January, while restrictions in Northern Ireland are in place until February 6.

Once restrictions are lifted and non-essential shops are allowed to reopen, charity shops will be open to accepting donations in store as long as social distancing measures are adhered to.