Scope charity to close 77 UK shops in 2025 after forecasting £1.5m loss

The high street charity shop chain Scope has confirmed the closure of three more branches this weekend, as part of a drastic plan to shut down 77 stores throughout 2025.

Financial pressures force widespread closures

The disability equality charity announced the move after forecasting a significant loss of £1.5 million for this financial year. The shops that ceased trading on Saturday, 6 December, were located in Morden, Torquay, and Washington.

Scope launched a consultation into the closures back in January, when it operated 138 shops nationwide. At that time, it warned that the proposals could lead to around 200 retail staff being made redundant and would impact approximately 2,000 volunteers.

Charity retail sector under strain

Debbie Boylen, Scope's head of retail, expressed sadness at the closures, stating the shops had helped raise vital income to support disabled people and their families. Chief Executive Mark Hodgkinson explained the difficult decision, highlighting that the shops are now collectively losing money when all costs are accounted for.

"This situation isn’t confined to Scope," Hodgkinson said. "All retailers have been hit with a greater shift to online shopping. And we are facing rising rents, soaring energy costs, increased staff costs, and the cost of living squeezing customers."

To ensure funds are focused on its charitable purpose, the organisation is proposing to close shops in stages over an 18-month period.

Full list of confirmed closures

According to reports, 59 Scope shops have already shut their doors this year. The charity has provided a full list of locations that have closed to date: