Rebecca Harris MP visited a parliamentary drop-in on Wednesday to show her support for the UK’s charity shops. Charity shops have soared in popularity in recent years as shoppers look to get the best value for their money and move towards making more sustainable fashion choices.
Charity shops are key figures on high streets across the country and alongside their environmental benefits in promoting reuse, savings hundreds of thousands of tonnes of clothing from being disposed of each year, they also support their local communities by attracting footfall to nearby businesses and acting as a social hub for people looking to learn new skills, meet others and build confidence.
Rebecca Harris MP said:
“It was fantastic to find out more about the work charity shops are doing to support their local communities. The charity retail sector is a really important driving force in encouraging people to shop sustainably and choose to reuse and it’s something that I’m proud to be supporting. I know that in Castle Point charity shops are at the heart of the community; boosting the local economy and creating jobs, as well as offering a place where people can come together.
“What is clear is that it’s the people who make charity shops so popular – from the staff and army of volunteers who make the shops such welcoming places to be, to the donors and customers who support the charities. I’d like to thank everyone involved for their hard work and effort in making charity shops succeed.
“I’m looking forward to seeing what the charity retail does next, and popping into a few more of my local shops!”
Robin Osterley, Chief Executive of the Charity Retail Association, said:
“Charity shops have shown their resilience in the huge challenges they’ve faced over the past few years and are now continuing to thrive and attract new customers. The importance of the role charity shops play in society cannot be understated – they occupy a prominent and exceptional place in the retail landscape and it’s exciting to see the sector adapting to meet the needs of their customers; from opening new superstores to embracing social media trends.
“Charity shops offer a completely unique shopping experience which couldn’t happen without the effort and dedication of the thousands of volunteers and staff who work every day to raise money for good causes and give their time to make their charity shops a success.”
Find out more about charity shops and your nearest stores at: https://www.charityretail.org.uk/.
