CLIC Sargent calls for public support as shops close

CLIC Sargent is calling for public support as it faces a £230k loss in Christmas sales at its charity shops as they close their doors for the latest lockdown in England.

CLIC Sargent will close its charity shops in line with government restrictions from Thursday 5 November meaning it will miss out on one of its busiest fundraising opportunities. But the charity is asking the public to show their support and #StandByOurCharityShops by buying their Christmas cards and gifts from its online shops during this time.

The coronavirus pandemic is having a huge impact on charities across the country, and closing its charity shops comes at a difficult time for CLIC Sargent, the UK’s leading cancer charity for children and young people with cancer. A drop in donations from fundraising and the closure of its charity shops during the first lockdown has left the charity facing a £9 million drop in income this year to fund its much-needed services.

The charity’s online shops will be operating as normal over the coming weeks, and there are still plenty of ways to support CLIC Sargent’s vital work and #StandByOurCharityShops during this time:

• A fantastic selection of Christmas cards and gifts are available from CLIC Sargent’s online shop
• CLIC Sargent’s eBay store is open and stocks lots of items including brand new toys
• When shopping online use Amazon Smile or Give as you Live where eligible purchases will result in a donation to your chosen charity

Jason Webster, Associate Director of Trading at CLIC Sargent said: “November is usually one of the busiest months in for CLIC Sargent’s 22 charity shops in the run up to Christmas, they would normally raise around £230,000 for the charity during the month so this is a huge loss for us especially after they were closed for four months because of lockdown earlier this year.  The money we normally raise helps to run our vital services for children and young people with cancer such as social workers and grants to help families struggling with the costs of cancer. But we are still here for those who need us and people can support us by buying Christmas cards and gifts from our online shop and eBay store.”

“We want to thank our team of incredible staff and volunteers who are so crucial to the running of our shops, they really have all gone above and beyond this year. As well as the local community for supporting us during this difficult time, and look forward to welcoming them back through our doors when we can.”

While CLIC Sargent’s shops are closed they are unable to accept donations, but once they are able to reopen, they will welcome much-needed donations. Jason said: “If you are planning to have a pre-Christmas sort through your wardrobe or declutter over the next few weeks, we’d really appreciate if you could save your donations and bring them to us when they shops reopen. We’re especially in need of winter clothes in good condition, toys and jewellery.”

ENDS

Notes to editors

This year CLIC Sargent’s charity shops have been hit by lockdown and ongoing health and safety and social distancing restrictions. Once the first lock-down earlier in 2020 was lifted, the charity was able to re-open a nine of its 22 shops in:
Downend (Bristol)
Fishponds (Bristol)
Keynsham (Bristol)
Clevedon
Wells
Bridgwater
Yeovil
Exeter
Saltash

With the wider government restrictions still in place, the charity expects that the earliest it will be able to open the rest of it’s shops will be next year. The following CLIC Sargent charity shops will remain closed and are not expected to be before May 2021):
Bristol: Cotham, Staple Hill (only open to receive donations), Shirehampton
Devon: Exmouth, Tiverton, Newton Abbot, Barnstaple
Southampton
Cornwall: Truro and Camborne
Somerset: Nailsea
Dorset:  Weymouth

These shops sadly closed permanently in July 2020: Bideford in Devon, Bishopston in Bristol, Trowbridge in Wiltshire and Eastleigh in Southampton

For media enquiries please call our Media team on 0844 848 1189 or email mediarelations@younglivesvscancer.org.uk

About cancer in children and young people
Today, 12 more children and young people in the UK will hear the devastating news that they have cancer. Treatment normally starts immediately, is often given many miles from home and can last for up to three years. Although survival rates are over 80%, cancer remains the single largest cause of death from disease in children and young people in the UK.

About CLIC Sargent
When cancer strikes young lives CLIC Sargent helps families limit the damage cancer causes beyond their health. CLIC Sargent is the UK’s leading charity for young cancer patients and their families. We provide specialist support, to help and guide each young cancer patient and their family. We will fight tirelessly for them, individually, locally and nationally. For more information, visit www.clicsargent.org.uk

Note to sub editors
Please note that the name ‘CLIC Sargent’ should not be abbreviated to CLIC, and that the word ‘CLIC’ should always appear in capitals, as above.