Major charity shop chain shuts another four stores after closing 38 – see the full list

A MAJOR charity shop chain has closed four more of its shops this month.

Disability charity Scope has confirmed it has closed its stores in Halstead, Hinkley, Camborne and Kendal this month.

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The charity previously announced it was considering shutting 77 of its 138 shops across the country.

At the time, its boss said it had to make the decision because of spiralling costs and fewer shops on the high street.

The Halstead store was the first to close and shut its doors for good on August 1.

The store was taken over by Farleigh Hospice, a charity that provides hospice care to people affected by life-limiting illnesses.

The store in Hinkley shut for the last time on August 4 and was transferred to A World UK CIC, which raises money to support the autistic community.

Meanwhile the stores in Camborne and Kendal closed on August 19.

Both stores were also transferred to A World CIC.

Seven employees in these stores will be retained and will be moving as well.

Three stores, in Dewsbury, Bridgwater and Scunthorpe, that closed earlier this year have also been taken over by A World UK.

In June it also transferred four shops and eight colleagues to the same organisation.

Debbie Boylen, head of retail at disability equality charity Scope, said: ”Our shops have helped us raise vital income to support our work with disabled people and their families.

“We’ve had such incredible support from these wonderful, generous communities and we wish our colleagues and volunteers the very best in their new roles. I know the shops, going forward will be in very good hands.”

The news comes after Scope has already shut 35 of its shops this year.

It closed 11 stores between the end of March and the end of May.

What’s happening at Scope?

The charity is among scores of big chains facing trouble on the high street.

Scope chief executive Mark Hodgkinson previously said that the chain’s high street stores had been hit by shoppers increasingly turning to online shopping.

Meanwhile, it has faced rising rents, soaring energy costs, increased staff costs and lower consumer spends.

In its annual report for the year to March 2024, Scope said it had made £24million from trading activities, up from £23.6million in the year before.

But in the same year it spent £24.7million maintaining and operating its shops, £1million more than in the previous year.

Scope began to close stores this year in order to focus on its most profitable stores.

A number of loss-making shops have since been closed, which has led to a number of job losses.

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