The Charity Retail Association (CRA) has warned that volunteering recruitment challenges at charity shops, which it says have intensified since the Covid-19 pandemic, might never improve.
CRA’s warning came as it yesterday published its new strategic plan which sets out its planned activities and key objectives over the next three years.
The plan identifies six priorities “against a complex and challenging background for retail as a whole, and charity retail in particular”.
‘Significant shift in volunteering landscape’
CRA said one of the consequences of Covid-19 has been “a significant shift in the landscape of volunteering in the UK”, with the volunteering force falling by 220,000 in early 2020 to around 186,000 today.
This is likely due to people’s reluctance to leave their homes, the impact of the cost-of-living crisis and individuals seeking paid work, among other things.
“It’s unclear as to whether the situation will ever improve, but it’s notable that a number of our members have adopted a position of mitigation rather than cure by taking on more paid staff to fill the gaps,” the plan reads.
The plan also notes that while the generosity of the public has never been greater, the quality of donations continues to decline.
“The increasing influence of fast fashion and overproduction of cheap clothing has created an influx of low-quality items into charity shops.”
Another issue highlighted in the plan is a change in customers’ behaviour such as a rise in verbal and physical abuse of shop workers.
‘Accelerating the growth of reuse’
One of CRA’s key objectives is to “accelerate the growth of reuse and wider sustainability initiatives”.
To do that, it intends to lobby for measures to promote reuse; work to increase members’ sustainability through signposting, partnerships and resource development; and campaign to promote sustainability with the public.
The plan says: “If charity shops didn’t exist, the amount of textiles going into landfill or incineration would approximately double.
“This startling fact would be reason enough for charity shops to exist and be given the full force of governmental support – but it still remains somewhat of a secret.
“Unfortunately, neither the UK government nor the EU (or for that matter local authorities) appear to set enough store by the importance of reuse compared to recycling.”
CRA said it will be working hard to ensure “reuse is given the same consideration as recycling in the thinking of the various administrations”.
‘Charity retail is here to stay’
Writing in the plan, CRA’s chair Emma Peake and CEO Robin Osterley said that charity retail is here to stay.
“Its pivotal importance to the UK high street, to the facilitation of reuse, and above all to the provision of hugely-needed unrestricted funds for parent charities, means that charities, society and even the planet cannot do without the marvellous institution that is the UK’s network of charity shops.”
Peake added: “This new strategic plan shows how far we’ve come as an organisation over the last 25 years and highlights the importance of CRA in the charity retail sector.
“At a time when all retail faces unprecedented challenges and headwinds, we as an organisation do indeed go from strength to strength in supporting our members to continue to raise large sums for the good causes they represent as well as championing sustainable shopping and acting as hubs in their communities.
“It’s an exciting time for the sector and for CRA, and we hope reading it’ll convey our key messages of inspiration and understanding.”
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