Charity shops generate £83 million of social value
Charity shops have always had a special place on the high street for thrifty customers but a new report has calculated the real value of charity shopping. Isabel Hospice have released a report for 2023 /2024 that quantifies the social value generated by charity shops and the benefits to customers, staff, volunteers, and donors.
The report found that as well as being affordable and sustainable places to shop, charity shops also play an important role in improving people’s lives and wellbeing, generating social value in many different ways.
A staggering £83,149,192 of social value was generated across Isabel Hospice’s 17 charity shops. For every pound spent in our shops, an additional £11.76 of social value was generated. Almost half of the social value was linked to giving back to others and the planet. The highest social value per person came from volunteers, totalling £3,177 per person.
Isabel Hospice retail volunteer, Ruth Salter, reaffirmed these findings, expressing to anyone considering volunteering “Do it, there is so much to gain. It will make you live happier, longer and stronger. You will never feel isolated and you’ll not only share your skills with others but develop new ones too!”
Isabel Hospice has been providing palliative care to its patients and their families in eastern Hertfordshire since 1982. We must raise £7 million every year and rely on donations from the community, as well as income from fundraising events and charity shops, including our eBay shop. Our charity shops also promote the circular economy through sustainable shopping, saving millions of items from landfill and passing on great value to conscientious customers.
Head of Retail & Marketing at Isabel Hospice, Charlotte Greenwood, comments, “We all know anecdotally the wellbeing and community benefits of charity shops, but we now have a quantifiable number that can be attributed to our hard work. We are proud of our shops and the role they play in giving back to the local community whilst promoting circularity. We hope that this report attracts new customers, donors and volunteers so we can continue funding palliative care to patients at the most difficult of times.”
To learn more about our varied and flexible volunteer opportunities, and see how it can add value to your life, visit www.isabelhospice.org.uk/volunteer
If you work for a company with surplus stock, whether it’s clothing, homeware, or even retail fixtures, have you considered donating these items? Your contributions could make a significant difference to our charity. Please reach out to us by emailing charlotte.greenwood@isabelhospice.org.uk to explore how we can collaborate. Your quality donations will not only find new homes but also generate much-needed funds.
The full 23/24 report can be downloaded from our website here. [Charity shops generate £83 million of social value – Isabel Hospice
You can view the Isabel Hospice 2023 Social Value Report here.
