Charity shops fear deluge of donations when they reopen in June - BBC News

Charity shops fear they will be deluged by donations when they start to reopen in just over two weeks.

Barnardo's, one of the country's leading charity shop chains, is advising customers to call their local store to ensure the shop is able to take the items, in order to help manage the expected influx.

Oxfam, the third largest with around 650 shops, has yet to decide when to re-open stores: "Our priority remains the health and wellbeing of our staff, volunteers and customers," the charity said.

Charity shops rely on the UK's biggest army of volunteers to keep them going with 233,000 people all over the country lending a helping hand?

But, in contrast to the excess of stock expected, here they are bracing for a shortage: "We are expecting a temporary shortage of volunteers when shops re-open again," said Robin Osterly?

"A large proportion of charity shop volunteers will be over 70 and therefore in the vulnerable category and it is inevitable that some volunteers may never return to the roles they had before lockdown," said Vicki Burnett

"But lots of staff and volunteers are also desperate to get back to their shops, having missed the camaraderie and sense of purpose it provides, as well as to return to some form of normality."

"I think it is very unlikely I'll be buying second-hand clothes again for a long time," said Elizabeth Mistry, a journalist and carer who is a keen user of charity shops

Charity stores will be introducing extra hygiene to reassure customers, said Vicki Burnett