Scope expands chain of charity shops in Harrogate

As retailers succumb to a tough economic climate, disability charity Scope is bucking the trend and continuing to expand its retail chain in areas including Harrogate.

All Scope’s new shops are 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 the charity’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 for its work. That also means within two years a loan can be paid back.

Shop opening on 9 August

New Scope shops will open in thriving market towns across the nation. These include the brand-new shop at 34 Beulah Street in Harrogate, which will be officially opened at 9am on Friday, 9 August by Andrew Jones, MP.

Andrew Jones, MP, said: “Scope provides an incredible service for disabled people and their families offering practical support and advice. 

“It is a cause I am enthusiastic to support and I am delighted to have been invited to officially open the new Scope shop in Harrogate. Having supported Scope in the past, I know the great work that the charity does.

“The shop will be an asset to the community and provide bargain hunters with somewhere to purchase unique items, as well as giving people the chance to build their retail and social skills through volunteering. 

“I wish the shop and its staff every success and look forward to visiting in the future to support the ongoing work of Scope with disabled people and their families.”

A retail success story

Andrew Adair, Director of Retail at Scope, added: “Our shops have been a real success story. We are very excited about expanding and helping breathe life into areas when many shops are closing and high streets are being stripped bare.

“In tough times the shops bring in regular, predictable income for Scope’s work with disabled people, but they also give us more of an opportunity to get our message out in the community by offering a chance for people to engage with disability, and find out more about our work.”

Scope’s 250 charity shops provide a chance for people to volunteer and develop social skills, as well as gaining retail experience. Some of the charity’s shops also offer volunteers the chance to gain an official and free retail qualification.

Supporting families of disabled children

As well as funding other shops, the income from the new retail stores will continue to provide enough money to, for example, support 60 families a year through Scope’s Face 2 Face network, which provides peer-to-peer support for families with newly diagnosed disabled children.

Scope has been trialling the innovative fundraising initiative since last year with expert guidance from Richard Bradbury. Richard, who is the former Chief Executive of River Island, is one of the charity’s patrons.

As well as the official opening, the new Harrogate shop will also be holding a volunteer open day from 10am to 3.30pm on Thursday 15 August. Anyone who is interested in volunteering is welcome to come along and find out more.