A major charity shop chain is shutting down two more of its high street locations this week, continuing a significant wave of closures across England and Wales.
Final farewell for Stourbridge and Folkestone
The Scope charity shop in Stourbridge will close its doors for the final time on Thursday, 20 November. This will be swiftly followed by the permanent closure of the Folkestone branch on Saturday, 22 November.
These latest shutdowns are part of a much larger restructuring plan that will see the charity close a total of 77 shops. Scope, which once operated 138 locations, has already shuttered more than 50 outlets this year alone.
A difficult decision for the charity
Debbie Boylen, Head of Retail at Scope, expressed her devastation at confirming the closures. She stated that the charity has been campaigning for disability equality for over 70 years, with its shops providing vital income to support this work.
Boylen emphasised that the decision was never taken lightly, acknowledging that for many staff and volunteers, their role was more than just a job. She thanked the incredible support from local communities and confirmed that the charity would do everything possible to support those affected.
A year of widespread closures
The closure programme began in earnest earlier this year, following a consultation process. A final wave of closures occurred over the summer, with ten outlets shutting by 29 June, one on 19 July, and four more by 19 August.
This follows the recent permanent closure of shops in locations including Halstead, Hinckley, Camborne, and Kendal, as well as Gillingham Twydall Green and Stamford Hill last month.
The charity has stated it is focusing its future high street presence on its most profitable locations, having closed several loss-making premises. Despite the reductions, Scope confirms it will continue to have a future on the high street, using its remaining shops to engage directly with local communities.
