A total of 39 stores for disability charity Scope, which has locations in England and Wales, will be permanently closed after the charity revealed they have been struggling financially. Like many high street shops the charity is experienced declining footfall and increasing costs, including higher rents as well as staff costs and energy bills.
The lack of people visiting stores is due to a rise in online shopping and increased costs for businesses. have have pushed shoppers to order their items straight to their door rather than visiting branches. Shoppers are also spending less due to soaring inflation and the cost of living crisis.
These challenges have forced even the biggest of companies to close down branches. Clothing store New Look ramped up a store closure programme ahead of the upcoming National Insurance hike. Around a quarter of the retailer's 364 locations are at risk when their leases expire.
Chief executive Mark Hodgkinson said the decisions was made "to ensure our funds are best focused upon our charitable purpose". He went on to say that Scope would continue to close some of their shops over the next 15 months, reports The Sun.
A full list of the stores which closed this week include:
A further 31 Scope shops are at risk of permanent closure between April 1, 2025 and March 31, 2026 and another five shops are expected to close their doors when their leases are due to be renewed.
