Major UK excessive avenue charity store to shut 74 shops as bosses admit large losses

Charity Scopes has been a fixture across the UK’s high streets since it first opened a store in Sevenoaks, Kent, in 1970, but bosses have now confirmed many stores will close

A staple of the UK’s charity store scene is to close 74 stores over the next 12 months. Scope, which has a store portfolio of around 138 branches, has announced all loss-making stores will close.

Although no end dates have been given, bosses confirmed that the closures will happen as an when leases come up for renewal – with 18 already closing last month, and two more set to close this month.

It has been confirmed that another six will close in May, will closure happening all the way through until March 2026, as Debbie Boylen, Head of Retail at disability equality charity said the move was being done despite “the very best efforts” of their teams working at the many branches set to close.

She explained: “Scope has been campaigning for disability equality for over 70 years. Our shops have helped us raise vital income to support our work with disabled people and their families.

“We know our teams put in their very best efforts, but our shops are collectively now losing money when taking account of all of their costs. A number make strong profits but there are loss making shops too. We never take the decision to close our stores lightly.

“Over a six week period we consulted with our colleagues and volunteers on proposals to close 77 of our shops. We closed 18 shops in March and are planning to close two shops in April and a further six in May – the dates for other shops have yet to be confirmed.

“We recognise for our colleagues and volunteers, it’s more than just a job. We know they feel passionately about playing their part in our work, creating an equal future with disabled people. We will be doing everything we can to support them and our decision does not reflect their hard work and dedication to Scope.”

Although Scopes has not blamed this month’s rise in Employer’s National Insurance brought in by Labour’s Chancellor Rachel Reeves, many high street brands have admitted that closures will need to happen as a result of the cost increase.

The full list of closures so far is:

• Amersham
• Barking
• Bangor
• Birkenhead
• Bishop Auckland
• Castleford
• Devizes
• Dewsbury
• Eastbourne
• Haywards Heath
• Lewisham
• New Milton
• Orpington
• Parkstone
• Scunthorpe
• Shirley (Southampton)
• Skipton
• Workington

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