Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Polwarth Pre-Loved Sale?

The Polwarth Pre-Loved Sale is a baby and children’s second-hand sale that offers pre-loved items, including clothing, toys, and equipment. It is run by Edinburgh families for Edinburgh families. The sales provide an opportunity to grab bargains for babies and children while raising money for local Edinburgh charities.

Where and when does the Polwarth Pre-Loved Sale take place?

The sales are held at Polwarth Parish Church, located at 36-38 Polwarth Terrace, Polwarth, Edinburgh, EH11 1LU. The sales usually run twice a year, one in April and another in September. The next sale is on the 26th of April 2025.

What items are available for sale?

You can find a wide variety of items, including:

Baby and kids’ clothes (up to age 16)
Kids’ shoes, sandals, and wellies
Baby equipment (e.g., cloth nappies, bottles, breast pumps)
Bedding
Maternity books and clothes
Prams and pushchairs
Bikes, trikes, and scooters
Car seats and booster seats
Cots, cribs, and highchairs
Baby and older kids’ toys
Books, DVDs, and games

Please note all items are sold as seen. No returns.

What payment methods do you accept?

We take cash and card in all areas of the sale.

What are the benefits of shopping at the Polwarth Pre-loved Sale?

The Layout

Sellers don’t stand with their items! Instead, everything is meticulously arranged in neat departments and age groupings. This smart organisation is better for everyone involved. It makes it a breeze for buyers to find exactly what they need, and increases the chances of your items flying off the shelves if your selling!

The Causes

Every aspect of the sale is powered by passionate volunteers.

Once sellers pocket their earnings, all remaining profits are donated to fantastic local children’s charities. This year, we’re shining the spotlight on the extraordinary Richmond’s Hope, who offer invaluable support to bereaved children.

We’re blown away by their incredible work!

The Environmental Credentials

One of the biggest reasons for holding our sales is keeping items out of landfills. It’s all about sustainability, folks!

It’s Affordable

In light of the rising cost of living, this sale is a beacon of hope, making quality items accessible at prices that won’t break the bank. Let’s be real—kid’s stuff can get pricey! With around 6,000 items up for grabs, there’s something for everyone!

How does the sale raise funds for charity?

After ensuring that our sellers receive their profits and covering the operational costs of the sale—such as venue hire, insurance, miscellaneous expenses, and banking fees—any remaining balance is donated to our selected charities.

The funds are generated through several key channels:

Seller Participation Fees: Sellers contribute a fee to participate in the event.
Entry Donations: Visitors support our cause by making a donation upon entry.
Cafe Sales: Proceeds from our cafe also contribute to the overall fundraising effort.

This approach allows us to maximize our charitable contributions while supporting both our sellers and the community.

Are children allowed to attend the sale?

Yes, you can bring children although it’s worth bearing in mind that as the sales can be extremely busy, you may enjoy it more if you don’t bring small children. Carriers work better for babies than buggies and prams.

Can I bring a buggy or pram?

As the sales are often extremely busy, it is advised that buggies or prams are not taken into the sale halls.

There will be space to store buggies but buyers do so at their own risk.

Will there be refreshments available?

Yes! We have a cafe selling tea, coffee, juice and delicious home bakes.

Do you accept recommendations for children’s charities to support?

Yes! We support each charity for a year, so 2 sales. You can find out more about previously supported charities here. If you have a suggestion for a charity for the future please drop us an email at polwarthprelovedsale@gmail.com.

Visit our selling page to learn more about selling and to sign up.

See our volunteering page to learn more about what our volunteers do and sign up.

Do you accept donations?

Yes, we welcome donations! Please drop off your items on the Friday afternoon and evening before the sale at Polwarth Parish Church. To ensure all items find a home and avoid landfill, please consider the following:

Acceptable Items:

Preloved baby, children’s, and maternity clothes
Toys
Baby and nursery equipment

Items Not Accepted:

Poor condition clothing or broken toys
Clothes with drawstrings
Hand-knitted toys
Sit-in baby walkers on wheels
Mains electrical goods (battery-operated items are fine)
Cot mattresses
Prams, pushchairs, buggies, or bicycles not in good repair
Car/bumper seats

Please only donate items you would be happy to give to a child of your own, as we cannot inspect every item. Thank you for your support!

Do you accept home baking?

Yes, we love home bakes!

Our cafe features delicious treats contributed by our wonderful volunteers, sellers, and customers.

If you’d like to contribute, you can drop off your baked goods on Friday between 3-8 PM and on Saturday morning.

To help us ensure our sales are as accessible as possible, please include a note with your baking listing the ingredients used. We won’t be able to sell anything received without this.

We will of course make it clear that we cannot guarantee that any baked goods are completely free from allergens, please don’t let this requirement deter you from contributing.

All proceeds from our cafe sales go directly to the charity we are supporting during that event. Thank you for your support!

How much does it cost to enter the sale?

Entry is by donation (£2 suggested for adults, kids are free) and both card and cash are accepted.

Is the sale run by Polwarth Church?

No it’s not. Whilst originally affiliated with the church, management was taken over by an independent committee some years ago. The sale continues to hire the church. It’s the perfect venue for our sale and the church continues to benefit from the hire fees. Win-win!

Is Polwarth Pre-Loved sale a Charity?

No, the sale is an Unincorporated Association with a Management Committee.

The association has the following objectives:

to provide a platform (e.g. in the form of second-hand sales) for the re-use of baby and children’s items.
to enable local people to buy baby and children’s items at affordable prices
to enable local people to sell unwanted baby and children’s items to raise funds for themselves
to raise money for local charities
to benefit the environment by providing a platform for the reuse of baby and children’s items.