Many high street charity shops should be closed as they cost the Government more in tax breaks than they make in profits.

This is the conclusion being drawn from a True and Fair Foundation study of the UKs 10,500 charity shops which showed that many were less profitable than high street retailers, which didn’t have the advantages of an 80% reduction in business rates, donated goods to sell and volunteer staff. The Foundation campaigns for more efficiency in the charity sector and points out that £1.6 billion in tax breaks to charity shops only results in profits of £290 million, or just 18% of the value of the concessions, without the free goods and free staffing.

According to the Foundation: “There simply are not enough sales or customers to justify 10,500 charity shops in the UK”