Charity shops fear being swamped with donations when they reopen stores

Charities will delay reopening amid worries they will be swamped with donations in two weeks time.

Officially charity shops can re-open on 15 June like other retailers but for many it may not be safe to do. They face a number of challenges, including all new donations have to be quarantined for 72 hours. There are also fears about workers safety in the shops.

It comes as people have spent the last two months in lockdown de-cluttering their homes. But charities have urged them not to leave donations outside shops and to be “thoughtful” about when they donate.

Oxfam said it is working on a “detailed plan” to enable its shops to reopen but does not currently have a confirmed date, and pointed out that many of its 20,000 shop volunteers are elderly.

The charity said: “Our priority remains the health and wellbeing of our staff, volunteers and customers. Many of our volunteers are elderly and vulnerable and we are acutely conscious of our responsibilities towards them.

“We are following government advice and are taking comprehensive steps to create a safe environment, including ensuring social distancing within the shops, providing personal protective equipment, regular cleaning of all surfaces, doors and equipment, and the isolation of donated items for 72 hours prior to listing for sale.

“We welcome the fact that many people are taking the opportunity to de-clutter during lockdown and we are asking people to hold on to those items for now and donate them to Oxfam when the shops and donation banks are open again.”