Hospice to close flagship charity shop after four decades

Strathcarron Hospice's Denny charity shop
-Credit: (Image: GOOGLE)


Strathcarron Hospice’s first ever official charity shop is set to close.

The shop has sat proudly in Denny’s high street for around four decades.

First run by volunteer group Friends of Strathcarron, the charity took over the shop in the 1990s as its first venture into retail, and opened it on 10 October 1991.

A spokesperson for Strathcarron said that, for over 33 years, the Denny shop had helped to not only promote the local hospice, it had also been a safe, warm and welcoming space for people to meet and shop.

The shop also significantly provided much needed hospice income from the sale of preloved goods.

They added: "Due to rising costs, there are now plans to move the Denny retail shop and we are currently looking for alternative premises in the local area.

"The shop will close its doors for the last time on Saturday 20 December 2024 and we are planning to open a Pop Up Shop within the Strathcarron Hospice building, open to the public from January 2025. "

Mags McCarthy, CEO, Strathcarron Hospice, “ It was a difficult decision to close our beloved Denny shop, but the rising costs to run, update and heat the premises was starting to outweigh the profits.

"We had to make a business decision, for the benefit of Strathcarron and the communities we serve, to close the shop. The Denny shop is now ‘coming home’ to the hospice.

"As we search for new premises, we will open up a new ‘Pop Up’ retail shop within our hospice building. This will encourage visitors to enjoy this local shopping experience, with all profits going directly back into the running of our hospice services.

Mags McCarthy, CEO, Strathcarron Hospice
Mags McCarthy, CEO, Strathcarron Hospice -Credit:STRATHCARRON HOSPICE

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"We are incredibly grateful to all our dedicated volunteers, and the people of Denny who have supported the shop over these years. This is a local community who are incredibly active in supporting their local hospice.

"I am continually impressed by the level of commitment, hard work and dedication of our amazing volunteers, and they will be continuing to support by volunteering at the new Pop Up shop and across our other local charity shops. They all look forward to seeing you soon."

With a total of 12 charity store premises across the Forth Valley, Cumbernauld and Kilsyth, the Bonnybridge and Stenhousemuir shops will be the closest for the people of Denny to drop off their donations.

The Strathcarron Shops are vital in fundraising for the hospice. By donating and shopping at Strathcarron charity shops, over the last year the local community has helped raise approximately £500,000 (including Gift Aid) for their local hospice.

The spokesperson added: "There is incredible work being done in charity retail and this funding goes directly into the hospice to make sure everyone can benefit from the very best end of life care.

General view of Strathcarron Hospice
General view of Strathcarron Hospice -Credit:Stirling Observer

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"Our charity shops are also important for the local communities we serve – providing volunteering opportunities, training in retail skills, tackling loneliness and isolation and fostering a sense of community."

Strathcarron recently joined forces with other hospices across the country to warn of a funding crisis over rising running costs.

The Denny hospice has to raise almost £120,000 every week to enable it to continue providing its services to users and their families.

But increases in everything from wage bills to heating costs over recent months and years have piled on the pressure.

Earlier this month Strathcarron appealed to “valued supporters” to challenge the Scottish Government on better funding and to sign an online letter to local MSPs.

Mags McCarthy, Strathcarron Hospice CEO said: “As a charity, we need to raise £116,459 every single week to provide all specialist end of life and palliative care services. We rely on the incredible generosity of local people.

“Our hospice services support over 400 people a week.

“Since 2006, the hospice has seen a steady increase in referrals - now 76 per cent higher - and despite this, the NHS have not funded additional posts. To match NHS rates of pay to recruit and retain our staff will significantly push up our wage bill. This could be devastating for the hospice and we are feeling enormous pressure.”