Well known high street chain has hit serious financial problems
Major charity retailer Scope has suddenly closed three of its branches, with plans to shut down 47 more as part of a significant restructuring. The charity, which operates stores across England and Wales, closed its Newport, Wales branch on April 5, followed by closures in Southampton and Atherstone on April 11 and April 12 respectively.
An additional 43 Scope stores are slated for closure between now and March 31, 2026, with four more set to close in the 2026/27 financial year. This comes on top of the 24 sites that have already ceased trading since the beginning of the year.
The move follows a consultation launched by Scope in January proposing the closure of 77 out of its 138 shops in England and Wales, citing reduced high street footfall and escalating costs. Chief executive Mark Hodgkinson acknowledged the retail arm’s “real contribution to raising vital income”, but noted that external factors had made trading more challenging.
Following the consultation, it was decided that 74 branches would close instead of the proposed 77, with six closing during the consultation period which ended in early March.
A further 18 more were closed by March 31.
These are the 18 shops that ceased trading before March 31:
- Amersham
- Barking
- Bangor
- Birkenhead
- Bishop Auckland
- Castleford
- Devizes
- Dewsbury
- Eastbourne
- Haywards Heath
- Lewisham
- New Milton
- Orpington
- Parkstone
- Scunthorpe
- Shirley (Southampton)
- Skipton
- Workington
Six shops that closed during the consultation period:
- Bexhill
- Hertford
- Mitcham
- Petersfield
- Scarborough
- Worthing
Of the remaining 47 branches to close, Scope has said five will shut in May, but has not revealed the locations, the Sun reported. The locations for the remaining 42 stores earmarked for closure are also yet to be revealed.
Debbie Boylen, head of retail at Scope, said: “Our shops have helped us raise vital income to support our work with disabled people and their families. We know our teams put in their very best efforts, but our shops are collectively now losing money when taking account of all of their costs.
A number make strong profits but there are loss making shops too. We never take the decision to close our stores lightly.” She added: “We know they (staff) feel passionately about playing their part in our work, creating an equal future with disabled people.
“We will be doing everything we can to support them and our decision does not reflect their hard work and dedication to Scope.”
