Scope expands retail chain in Ilkley

In the next few months, Scope is set to open more charity shops in thriving market towns across the nation. Despite challenging weather conditions, the first shop of 2013 was opened in Ilkley on Monday.

Sponsor a shop

All of Scope's new shops will be funded by an innovative scheme that allows charitable donations to go further by giving people the chance to invest in these new stores.

Instead of directly donating to Scope's work on the ground with disabled people and their families, generous donors can loan or donate £50,000 to open a new shop.

Each shop then generates as much as £30,000 a year, which Scope can use as a source of on-going funding to continue providing important advice, support and services. It also means within two years a loan can be paid back.

Gill Cookson, Scope Area Manager for the Ilkley shop, said: "We are all extremely proud that the new Ilkley shop will lead the way for Scope's retail expansion in 2013.

"Ilkley is a lovely area with a tight-knit community, and we hope our new customers will enjoy browsing through the high-quality clothes, books, CDs and bric-a-brac on sale.

"The new shop will also give people a chance to come in and find out a bit more about Scope's vital work with disabled people and their families.

"The more stores Scope opens, the more chance we will all have to engage with the public and help people understand where the money they spend in our shops ends up."

Scope recently announced former River Island chief executive Richard Bradbury as a patron. The charity hopes his expertise will add to the success of the scheme. Scope has been trialling the innovative fundraising scheme over the last 12 months with Ilkley being one of the latest new shops to open.