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Scope Accelerates Shop Closures, Targeting 77 of 138 by March 2026

Leaders cite sustained losses, rising costs and the shift to online shopping as the rationale for shrinking the retail footprint.

Overview

  • Scope says 73 shops have already shut with four more confirmed next, progressing toward a plan to close 77 of 138 stores by the end of March 2026.
  • Fifty-four jobs have been cut as part of the restructuring designed to curb an ongoing financial deficit.
  • Latest accounts for the year to March 2025 report income of £44 million against £52.9 million in spending, marking a sixth straight year of operating losses and a five-year reserves fall from £42.7 million to £26.4 million.
  • The charity estimates savings of about £4 million in 2025–26 from shop closures and roughly £1.9 million from job reductions.
  • Scope confirmed local closures in Morden, Torquay and Washington on 6 December and says it will support staff and volunteers, as the sector sees similar moves from Cancer Research UK toward a smaller core chain and more out-of-town superstores.