Sources
1. CRA’s QMA/shop data and Civil Society’s Charity Shops Survey data combined
2. CRA’s Quarterly Market Analysis (QMA) report
3. CRA’s Workforce report, August 2025
4. CRA’s “Find a shop” data, March 2025
5. CRA’s Average selling prices report, Jan-Dec 2022
6. ‘The Value of Giving Back – The Social Value of Charity Shops’ report
Social, environmental and financial impact
Charity retail statistics
From supporting communities to protecting the planet, charity shops drive positive lasting change.
Charity shops do all of this and more
Profit contribution of charity retail to parent charities
More than £300m in 2024/25 (1)
Social value generated by UK charity shops
£75.3 billion in Jan-Dec 2022 (6)
Number of people employed in charity retail in the UK
More than 23,500 FTE employees (3)
Number of charity shop volunteers in the UK
More than 203,600 volunteers (3)
Number of charity shops in the UK
Around 10,100 (4)
Average transaction value in a charity shop
£7.32 in Apr-Jun 2025 (sample 59 charities) (2)
Sample information on average price per item (UK median prices)
Womenswear: £4.50 (5) Menswear: £5.01 (5)
Proportion of income from new goods sales
7.7% in Apr-Jun 2025 (sample 58 charities) (2)
Proportion of all retail units which are charity shops
3.3% (4)
Statistics from market research commissioned by a CRA member
From November 2024 report
74% of people agreed that charity shops help reduce waste within their community.
73% of people agreed that charity shops provide affordable goods for local residents.
68% of people agreed that charity shops encourage ethical shopping.
28% of people said donating to causes they feel connected to was the most important factor when donating.
13% of people said sustainability was the most important factor when donating.
12% of people said donating to shops close to where they reside was the most important factor in choosing where to donate.
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