Charity shop fans will have the opportunity to name the favourite charity shop in the UK, in a brand-new award launched by the Charity Retail Association as part of its 25th Anniversary celebrations.
The UK’s Favourite Charity Shop Award launches on Monday 17th June and gives shoppers the chance to nominate and vote for their favourite charity shop in the UK for the first time.
Charity shops have long been an integral part of local high streets and people’s lives – in 2022, 38% of UK adults said they bought items from charity shops and 44% said they had donated items to charity shops in the past three months*. With more than 10,200 shops to be found in towns and cities across the UK, charity shops have risen in popularity in recent years as people look to shop sustainably for affordable clothing, accessories and homeware.
This growth in second hand shopping has led to charities opening exciting new superstores, boutiques and pop-up shops to meet the needs of their customers, as more and more people embrace charity shopping.
Charity shops also act as community hubs, working to combat loneliness and bringing people together in local communities through volunteering and events, all whilst raising crucial funds for good causes.
Members of the public will be invited to nominate their favourite charity shop, which will be judged to create a shortlist of shops from each regional area of the UK. A public vote this summer will then decide 12 regional winners, with the overall winning shop to be announced at a special gala dinner in November.
The deadline for nominating a charity shop for the award is midnight on Monday 15th July. The public vote to determine the local and overall winners will open on Monday 26th August.
Robin Osterley, Chief Executive of the Charity Retail Association, said:
“We are delighted to be launching the first-ever UK’s Favourite Charity Shop Award as part of the Charity Retail Associations 25th Anniversary celebrations this year. This is a unique opportunity for everyone who loves charity shops to show their appreciation for their favourite shop and shout about everything they like about it. We know that charity shops are much-loved in their communities for many different reasons, whether it’s the range of items on offer, the location, the staff and volunteers, or if the charity simply means something special to someone, and now is the time to show appreciation for the fantastic work they do every day.
“We have chosen to have both regional and overall winners as part of the award to make sure that we are celebrating as many charity shops as possible – there are more than 10,000 of them in the UK after all!
“It’s quick and easy to nominate a charity shop on our website, so please do get your entries in as soon as possible to make sure they’re in with a chance of winning.”
Jen Graham, Charity Shop Girl, second hand fashion stylist and inspirer, said:
“Charity shops are incredibly important to our communities and a great way to shop sustainably on a budget. As a huge fan of charity shops myself, I think this is a great opportunity to get people talking about all the reasons their favourite charity shop deserves to win, and to recognise the hard work and dedication charity shop staff and volunteers put into making their shops welcoming and exciting places to be. I’m looking forward to getting involved in the award and celebrating everything charity shops have to offer!”
Nominations for The UK’s Favourite Charity Shop Award can be submitted via a form on the Charity Retail Association’s website, here: www.charityretail.org.uk/the-
About the Charity Retail Association
As the membership body for charity retailers, we are the voice of charity retail in the UK. We have over 460 retailer members, who collectively run 85 percent of all charity shops in the UK. Our members range from national chains running several hundred shops to local charities running a single shop. We support our members through advocacy, research, providing policy and operational advice, and offering networking and learning opportunities. www.charityretail.org.uk.
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