Shop closures across Scope in response to coronavirus

Today, Scope announced that all its 207 shops will close in response to growing concerns around coronavirus. All shops will be closed from the end of Friday, 20 March for an initial period of 2 weeks.

Scope has made the decision in order to protect the health and wellbeing of its 527 staff, 4,000 volunteers, their families and its customers.

Scope has not made this decision lightly as its shops provide vital funds to support its work to drive social change for disabled people, including supporting parents and families with disabled children, providing advice and information to thousands of disabled people and their families each year and, campaigning on the issues that matter.

Scope is encouraging individuals who wish to donate items to do so at Scope textile banks around the country. Donations at shops will be gladly received once Scope shops are open in the future.

Scope’s Chief Executive Mark Hodgkinson said

“This is a difficult decision for any retailer to have to take. However protecting the health and wellbeing of all our staff, volunteers, their families and our customers is vital and our responsibilities towards them are paramount in these difficult times.

“Our retail chain provides vital income to Scope’s mission to achieve everyday equality for disabled people.

“Scope are looking at ways to ensure all of its retail staff are supported financially over the coming weeks and months. We are hugely grateful to our shop teams, for all their hard work and to our customers and supporters for everything they do.

“Scope is now focusing on supporting disabled people and their families as they face an anxious time self-isolating or following the Government’s advice on social distancing.”