From 4th May to 31st May, UK Olio-ers can opt their non-food listings into our Mental Health Foundation fundraising campaign. When you do, both you and the person collecting your item will be sent a message inviting you both to donate directly to the Mental Health Foundation.
Why has OIio partnered with the Mental Health Foundation?
We believe that sharing and community are good for you – not just for the planet. In fact, 76% of Olio-ers tell us that using Olio has improved their mental wellbeing. Giving things a second life, connecting with neighbours, and being part of something bigger all have a real, positive impact on how we feel.
That's why partnering with the Mental Health Foundation for Mental Health Awareness Week (11–17 May) feels like such a natural fit. This year's theme is Action – the idea that any small action can help us feel better. Decluttering is action. Sharing is action. And together, we can raise vital funds for the Foundation's work while putting the mental health benefits of the community into practice.
How does it work?
When you add a non-food item, you'll see a tick box on your listing page asking if you'd like to opt your listing to be eligible for a donation.
Everytime, you add a new item and you want that listing to be eligible for a donation, you will have to toggle the donations box on.
Once your listing is live, it will have a Mental Health Foundation banner in the description, so other Olio-ers can see it's part of the campaign before they request.
Once pick-up is arranged, both you and your collector will receive an automated message 24 hours later inviting you to donate to the Mental Health Foundation. The donation link goes directly to their website, where they handle the payment.
How many donation messages will I receive?
If you're adding items: you'll only receive one automated message per 24-hour period, once you mark your item as pick-up arranged.
If you're requesting items: you'll receive one donation message per eligible item you pick up. So if you collect two items, you'll receive two messages. But each message will arrive 24 hours after pick-up is confirmed.
Will I still receive donation messages if I've already donated?
Yes, unfortunately. Due to GDPR, the Mental Health Foundation isn't able to share donor details with us, so we have no way of knowing if you've already donated or not. We're sorry for any extra messages – and thank you so much if you've donated!
How long does the campaign run?
The donation feature is live for four weeks from 4th May and ending on 31st May. It's available to UK users only, as the Mental Health Foundation is a UK charity.
What if my listing is added near the end of the campaign?
As long as you list an item within the campaign window, it is eligible for MHF donations, even if it's collected after the four-week campaign window closes.
For example: if you add a listing on the last day of the campaign and it's picked up two weeks later, both you and your collector will still receive the donation message. Any listing added during the campaign period is part of the Declutter for Good campaign.
Do I have to take part?
Not at all. If you don’t want to participate, simply keep the donations toggle off when listing your non-food items.
How much should I donate?
That's completely up to you as well! There are options to donate £1, £5, £10, £20 or a custom amount – any contribution to the Mental Health Foundation is very welcome.
What happens when the four weeks are up?
We’ll share an update on how much our community has donated throughout May. For now, we’re partnering with the Mental Health Foundation during the month of the Mental Health Awareness Week, as it’s their biggest campaign of the year.
If it goes well, we’d love to bring it back again next year.
Will you partner with other charities in the same way?
Possibly, yes. If the Mental Health Foundation campaign goes well, we'd love to explore bringing this kind of partnership to other national charities in the future. We'll keep you posted if that happens.
What is the Mental Health Foundation?
The Mental Health Foundation is the UK's leading charity for everyone's mental health. They're the only UK charity solely focused on preventing poor mental health – funding research, creating resources, and running public campaigns to help people understand and protect their wellbeing before problems arise.
They've been running Mental Health Awareness Week for 25 years, making it one of the most high-profile public health campaigns in the UK, reaching millions of people through media, workplaces, schools, and communities each year. Around 1 in 5 adults in the UK experience a common mental health condition such as anxiety or depression – and the Foundation's work is focused on changing that, for everyone.
Find out more at mentalhealth.org.uk.