1. Environmental benefits are listed here.

2. Jobs: Charity retail provides over 26,100 UK jobs. These employees are often closely integrated into their community. 70% of charity shop managers are from the local area of their shop with 40% having lived there for more than 20 years. These jobs are also stable. A third of shop managers have worked in their shop for more than five years, and half of these have worked there more than ten years[1].

3. Employability: More than 187,200 people volunteer in charity shops nationwide – the largest single group of volunteers in the country. These opportunities can help boost their employability skills. 75% of charity shop volunteers believe that volunteering has helped them to learn new skills and valued this process1.

4. Mental health: Volunteering can also help to combat social isolation and loneliness amongst older volunteers. 61% of charity shop volunteers believe that volunteering has a positive impact on their physical and mental health and over 80% think it improves their self-esteem and confidence1.  Community Service Volunteers estimate that for every £1 spent on volunteers, £3.38 of value was created, including through improved health outcomes.

5. High streets: Charity shops are not direct competitors to commercial interests, but are their partners on high streets. The donated stock sold is not available to other retailers. Charity shops help to reduce vacancy rates and therefore keep the high street populated and busy. This has a clear advantage to local economies.


[1] Shopping for good, by Demos: https://www.demos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/Shopping-for-Good-the-social-benefits-of-charity-retail-.pdf