British Heart Foundation plans to close 150 charity shops

The British Heart Foundation (BHF) says it is planning to close around 150 charity shops, citing an "exceptionally challenging trading environment".

The charity, which carried out a review of its retail arm, said rising operating costs and changing customer habits meant some stores were "no longer financially sustainable".

Its overall financial position "remains healthy", it said, adding it is continuing to see strong fundraising and legacy income.

The BHF currently has 640 shops and stores across England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland. The proposed closures, within the next two years, make up just under a quarter of the total.

The charity plans to close around 90 stores by the end of March 2027, and the remaining affected stores by March 2028.

It said it would share the locations of the stores earmarked for closure on its website once affected colleagues had been informed.

The charity also plans to reduce the central teams that support its retail arm.

Chief Executive Charmaine Griffiths acknowledged this would be a difficult time for colleagues and volunteers, thanking them for their contributions.