Students in Southampton have used unwanted clutter to help raise nearly £28,000 for a national charity.

The British Heart Foundation (BHF) partnered with the University of Southampton to encourage students to donate unwanted items – and their efforts raised an estimated £27,880 for the charity.

The BHF Shops scheme called on young people to have a clear-out and donate unwanted goods at the end of the academic year.

The successful partnership saw 1,394 bags donated to collection bins around the university campus.

Students donated clothes, good quality shoes, CDs, DVDs, books, kitchenware, and small electrical items.

Julie Paffett, BHF regional stock generator, said: “The response from Southampton students has been fantastic.

“Each BHF shop needs to receive 400 bags of unwanted items a week and thanks to generous donations from the university’s students and staff we have been able to help our shops in the Southampton area.

“Coronary heart disease is the UK’s single biggest killer, shattering the lives of too many children, parents and grandparents – you can join the fight for every heartbeat by having a clear out and using the new facilities to donate your unwanted things.”

Dave Francis, residences client services supervisor at the University of Southampton, said: “We wanted to work with BHF Shops to provide this convenient new service to encourage students to donate unwanted items to this great cause rather than throw them out.

“We are delighted that this collaboration has proved to be such a success and hope the service continues to be used, helping us to raise vital funds to continue the BHF’s life saving work.”

To create your own stock collection campaign or locate your nearest clothing bank, contact Karen O’Donoghue on 01372 477470. To locate your nearest BHF shop visit bhf.org.uk/shops or call 0844 4125000.