High street chain to shut another six shops starting this weekend ahead of 77 branches closing – is your local affected?.

According to The Sun: The well-known charity retail chain Scope is closing six of its retail locations starting at the end of August, after closing 50 stores this year.

The closures will occur from August 30 to September 27, with the Alton store shutting its doors on Saturday.

Stores in Bishop's Stortford, Huntingdon, and Newmarket will also close on September 6, while those in Beverley and Fleet will close on September 27.

List of Closing Stores

Here is a list of the stores that will close in the coming days:

• Alton – August 30
• Bishop's Stortford – September 6
• Huntingdon – September 6
• Newmarket – September 6
• Beverley – September 27
• Fleet – September 27

These closures are part of a widespread reduction: since early March, Scope has closed 50 stores following a consultation process.

Six of them closed before the completion of consultations, including stores in Bexhill, Mitcham, and Worthing. After March 31, another 18 stores closed, including locations in Erith, Barking, and Scunthorpe.

In May, 11 stores were closed, including those located in Exmouth, Bury, and Newport, with several more locations closing in June, July, and August.

Overall, Scope is considering closing 77 of its 138 stores across the country.

“We never take the decision to close our stores lightly,” said Debbie Boylen, Retail Lead at the disability rights charity Scope. “We understand that for our colleagues and volunteers, this is more than just a job.”

She emphasized that Scope plans to remain a representative of retail chains and will continue to collaborate with local communities.

Why are Scope's Stores Closing?

Scope began consultations regarding store closures in January due to declining customer numbers and rising costs.

CEO Mark Hodgkinson noted that charity retail was making a “real contribution to important revenue,” but external factors complicated this work.

He added: “This situation is not exclusive to Scope. All retailers are facing a huge shift to online shopping. Additionally, rental prices, energy costs, and the overall pricing crisis are rising.”

According to the annual report for the year ending March 2024, Scope received £24 million from trading activities – £400,000 more than the previous year.

However, the costs of maintaining and operating stores in the same period reached £24.7 million, which is £1 million more than last year.

Scope continues to close unprofitable stores, focusing on the most profitable locations, which has resulted in job reductions.

These changes reflect the challenges facing the charity sector amid economic instability, where it is crucial to adapt business models adequately for survival. The prospect of closing even more stores may indicate that organizations like Scope need to reassess their strategies to sustain their operations and community service.