Oxfam has stated it "cannot give guarantees" about the future of its high street charity shops "in this difficult economic climate" and is reportedly reviewing the future of three warehouses.
The charity said it had no plans to close warehouses or shops, but an insider claimed they feared warehouses in Batley, Bicester and Milton Keynes could shut. These three sites together employ around 90 people and run both the organisation's humanitarian arm and textile and retail side.
Potential Store Closures
Despite the charity saying high street shops were not at risk, a source has reportedly claimed Oxfam was considering closing up to 100 of its around 500 UK sites.
An insider, according to the Guardian, claimed "donations have dropped off" and said the potential future changes have come amid a rise in people selling their own items on online marketplaces, such as Vinted.
Online Competition and Cost Cutting
The charity has set up a new online retail website, called Oxfam Shop, where people can buy clothes, books, gifts and more. However, the insider added: "Oxfam is always more expensive, and that's starting to have an effect."
This source also claimed it was worried the charity giant could close the Batley warehouse, in West Yorkshire, when the lease is up for renewal in a drive to cut costs.
Oxfam's Response
Oxfam GB's chief supporter officer, Lorna Fallon, said the charity raised millions through retail operations but said she could not give guarantees on the future of this wing of the organisation.
Fallon said: "In [the last financial year], Oxfam GB's shops, warehouses and online retail teams generated a £6.3m (net) contribution to our humanitarian work, as well as raising dedicated funds through emergency appeals to support crises in Venezuela, the Middle East and Ukraine.
"As is standard practice, we keep all parts of our retail operations under review via regular meetings. While we cannot give guarantees in this difficult economic climate, we are confident in and positive about our current retail performance and do not have plans to close our shops or warehouses at this time."
Fallon added that the charity is set to open a second superstore, in Manchester, and is now completing their online orders in-house. The chief supporter officer added: "Next month our shops, warehouses and digital hubs will be leading Second Hand September, our annual campaign to tackle fashion's environmental damage while raising funds for our global work on poverty and climate change."
This comes after Oxfam reported its income fell by around £28m to £339.4m in 2025. Oxfam GB also made 250 members of staff redundant last year in an effort to cut over £10m in spending costs.
