Disability charity Scope has announced plans to close 77 of its 138 shops by March 2026, as part of a major restructuring to address a financial deficit. The charity has already cut 54 jobs, with further savings expected from the shop closures.
Scope's latest financial report, covering the year to March 2025, shows total income fell by 7% to £44 million, while expenditure rose by 9% to £52.9 million. This marks the charity's sixth consecutive year of operating losses. Over the past five years, its reserves have dropped from £42.7 million to £26.4 million.
Chief executive Mark Hodgkinson said: 'Despite our teams' best efforts, our shops are collectively now losing money. A number make strong profits but there are loss-making shops too. This situation isn't confined to Scope. All retailers have been hit with a greater shift to online shopping, rising rents, soaring energy costs, increased staff costs, and the cost of living squeezing customers.'
The charity expects the closures to reduce running costs by £4 million in 2025-26, with additional savings of £1.9 million from job cuts. Scope said it will continue to operate 61 shops and focus on its charitable purpose of supporting disabled people.
Debbie Boylen, head of retail at Scope, confirmed the closure of three shops in Morden, Torquay, and Washington on December 6, 2025. She said: 'We never take the decision to close our stores lightly. We recognise for our colleagues and volunteers it's more than just a job.'
Scope is not alone in facing difficulties; Cancer Research UK also plans to shut nearly 200 stores by 2027 due to rising costs and online competition.
