Major Charity Shop Chain Announces Closure of 39 Stores
A recent map has unveiled the locations of 39 stores that Scope, a prominent disability charity, is set to close permanently. The charity, which operates shops across England and Wales, revealed its decision in January to potentially shut down 138 of its retail outlets, marking a significant setback for the high street.
According to the charity’s leadership, the decision stems from ongoing challenges such as dwindling footfall and escalating operational costs, which include soaring rents, skyrocketing energy bills, and increased staff wages. Chief Executive Mark Hodgkinson commented at the time, “To ensure that our resources are effectively allocated towards our charitable mission, we have informed our teams that we will propose the phased closure of some shops over the next 18 months.”
It has now been confirmed that the following 39 stores will close by Monday, March 31:
- Amersham
- Bangor
- Barking
- Beckenham
- Bexhill
- Bishop Auckland
- Bridgwater
- Castleford
- Christchurch
- Cambourne
- Devizes
- Dewsbury
- Eastbourne
- Ely
- Gillingham HS
- Halstead
- Haywards Heath
- Hertford
- Hinckley
- Kendal
- Lewisham
- Llandudno
- March
- Mitcham
- Morley
- New Milton
- Nuneaton
- Oadby
- Orpington
- Parkstone
- Petersfield
- Rochdale
- Scarborough
- Scunthorpe
- Shirley (Southampton)
- Skipton
- Stourbridge
- Wednesbury
- Welling
Additionally, a store in Pwllheli, located in northwest Wales, was initially slated for closure but has since been saved. However, there are still 31 more shops at risk of shutting down between April 1, 2025, and March 31, 2026. Furthermore, an additional five stores are anticipated to close when their leases come up for renewal or when there are breaks in their rental agreements. Scope has already taken the step of closing at least 22 underperforming shops, including locations in Haywards Heath and Southampton.
Challenges Facing the High Street
The decline of UK high streets has been an ongoing issue for several years. In 2024 alone, approximately 37 shops were reported to close each day, according to an analysis conducted by the Centre for Retail Research. Several factors contribute to this troubling trend, including a shift towards online shopping and increased operational costs for brick-and-mortar businesses. Retailers are grappling with rising energy expenses and high rents, compounded by significant business rates. Meanwhile, foot traffic has decreased, and consumers are spending less due to rampant inflation.
Numerous well-known high street brands have also been shuttering stores this year. For instance, New Look is implementing a store closure strategy in light of the impending National Insurance hike set for April. Approximately a quarter of the retailer’s 364 stores are in jeopardy when their leases expire. Similarly, the fashion chain Select closed 35 of its outlets earlier this month, with its remaining 48 stores saved at the last minute by an undisclosed buyer.
Retail Sector Struggles in 2025
The British Retail Consortium has predicted that the Treasury’s increase to employer National Insurance contributions will cost the retail sector a staggering £2.3 billion. Research conducted by the British Chambers of Commerce reveals that over half of businesses plan to raise prices by early April. A survey of more than 4,800 companies indicated that 55% expect to increase prices in the next three months, a rise from 39% in a similar survey conducted in the latter half of 2024. Three-quarters of these firms identified the cost of labor as their primary financial burden.
The Centre for Retail Research (CRR) has further cautioned that approximately 17,350 retail locations are projected to close this year. This follows a challenging 2024, during which 13,000 shops permanently ceased operations—a staggering 28% increase compared to the previous year. Professor Joshua Bamfield, director of the CRR, remarked, “The results for 2024 show that while the overall outcomes for store closures were not as dire as in either 2020 or 2022, they remain concerning, with a worse outlook anticipated for 2025.” Professor Bamfield has also warned of a grim forecast for 2025, predicting potential job losses in the sector could reach as high as 202,000. “By increasing both the costs of operating stores and the financial burden on each consumer household, it is highly likely that we will witness retail job losses surpassing the peak levels experienced during the pandemic in 2020.”