A high-street chain is set to close six branches in the next few weeks after already shutting 50 branches this year. At the start of the year, the charity shop announced it would consider closing 77 of its 138 shops as it struggled with higher rental fees, online shopping and staff costs.

The first of Scope's ill-fated branches will close in Alton within just days, on Saturday, August 30. Three shops will quickly follow on September 6, in Hertfordshire, Cambridgeshire, and Suffolk. Two other branches, which intend to raise money for the disability equality charity, will close in Yorkshire and Hampshire on September 27.

Debbie Boylen, head of retail at charity Scope, said: "We never take the decision to close our stores lightly. We recognise that for our colleagues and volunteers, it's more than just a job. We know they feel passionately about playing their part in our work to create an equal future with disabled people, and our decision does not reflect their hard work or dedication to Scope."

She added that Scope will have a future on the high street and its shops will continue to be a hub for community engagement.

Scope, which has branches in England and Wales, has already shut 50 branches since early March following a consultation process earlier this year.

Some 23 shops shut by the end of March, including two locations around London, in Barking and Amersham. Then in May, 11 shops closed their doors for the final time, and in summer, 15 shops were also lost.

Chief executive Mark Hodgkinson said at the time that the charity's retail arm had made a "real contribution to raising vital income" but external factors had "made trading harder", including a shift to online shopping.

"And we are facing rising rents, soaring energy costs, increased staff costs, and the cost of living squeezing customers," he added.

In its annual report for the year to March 2024, Scope said it had made £24million from trading activities, but in the same year it spent £24.7million maintaining and operating its shops.

Full list of planned closures

• Alton, Hampshire - August 30


• Bishop's Stortford, Hertfordshire - September 6


• Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire - September 6


• Newmarket, Suffolk - September 6


• Beverley, Yorkshire - September 27


• Fleet, Hampshire - September 27

Full list of closures so far this year

• Halstead - Farleigh Hospice taken over premises and staff


• Hinkley - A World UK CIC taken over premises and staff


• Camborne - A World UK CIC has taken over the premises and staff


• Kendal - A World UK CIC has taken over the premises and staff


• Gosport


• Wednesbury - A World UK CIC has taken over premises and staff


• Rochdale - A World UK CIC has taken over premises and staff


• Nuneaton - A World UK CIC has taken over premises and staff


• Gillingham High Street (Kent) - A World UK CIC has taken over premises and staff


• Beckenham


• Portsmouth


• Taunton


• Bromley


• Bridgwater


• Burton


• Blyth


• Hove George


• Burton


• Erdington


• West Hampstead


• Exmouth


• Bury


• Newport


• Southampton (Portswood Road)


• Atherstone


• Welling


• Amersham


• Barking


• Bangor


• Birkenhead


• Bishop Auckland


• Castleford


• Devizes


• Dewsbury


• Eastbourne


• Haywards Heath


• Lewisham


• New Milton


• Orpington


• Parkstone


• Scunthorpe


• Shirley (Southampton)


• Skipton


• Workington


• Bexhill


• Hertford


• Mitcham


• Petersfield


• Scarborough


• Worthing