A major UK charity retailer has confirmed the closure of dozens of its high street stores, putting hundreds of jobs in jeopardy. Scope, the disability equality charity, is shutting 77 of its shops in a move that will impact around 200 retail staff and approximately 2,000 volunteers.
Financial Pressures Force Widespread Closures
The decision forms part of a wider restructuring plan after the charity forecast a significant financial loss. Scope anticipates a £1.5 million deficit for this financial year, a situation that has made the current shop portfolio unsustainable. The charity launched a consultation on the closures in January, when it operated 138 stores across the country.
Mark Hodgkinson, Scope's chief executive, explained the difficult context behind the decision. "Despite our teams' best efforts our shops are collectively now losing money when taking account of all of their costs," he stated. "A number make strong profits but there are loss making shops too."
A Sector-Wide Challenge for High Street Charities
Hodgkinson emphasised that the problems are not unique to Scope, highlighting pressures facing the entire retail sector. All retailers have been hit with a greater shift to online shopping, alongside soaring operational costs. He cited rising rents, increased energy bills, higher staff costs, and the cost of living crisis reducing customer spending as key factors.
Debbie Boylen, Head of Retail at Scope, expressed sadness at the outcome. "Our shops have helped us raise vital income to support our work with disabled people and their families," she said. Following the consultation, the charity confirmed that shops in Morden, Torquay, and Washington would be among the first to close, shutting their doors for the final time on Saturday, 6 December.
The Full List of Affected Scope Stores
The 77 shops scheduled for closure are spread across England and Wales. The charity plans to implement the closures in stages over the next 18 months to ensure funds are focused on its core charitable purpose. The complete list of locations is:
- Stourbridge
- Folkestone
- Gillingham Twydall Green
- Stamford Hill
- Beverley
- Fleet
- Huntingdon
- Newmarket
- Bishop’s Stortford
- Alton
- Halstead
- Hinkley
- Camborne
- Kendal
- Gosport
- Wednesbury
- Rochdale
- Nuneaton
- Gillingham High Street (Kent)
- Beckenham
- Portsmouth
- Taunton
- Bromley
- Bridgwater
- Blyth
- Hove George
- Burton
- Erdington
- West Hampstead
- Exmouth
- Bury
- Newport
- Southampton (Portswood Road)
- Atherstone
- Welling
- Amersham
- Barking
- Bangor
- Birkenhead
- Bishop Auckland
- Castleford
- Devizes
- Dewsbury
- Eastbourne
- Haywards Heath
- Lewisham
- New Milton
- Orpington
- Parkstone
- Scunthorpe
- Shirley (Southampton)
- Skipton
- Workington
- Bexhill
- Hertford
- Mitcham
- Petersfield
- Scarborough
- Worthing
The closures mark a significant retreat from the high street for one of the UK's well-known charity retailers, reflecting the profound challenges facing physical stores in the current economic climate.
