Latest news with #JemimaLaing
The Sun
3 days ago
- Business
- The Sun
Major charity shop with over 600 stores across the UK to close city site after 35 years
A MAJOR charity chain with over 600 stores has confirmed it will shut one of its beloved high street branches in weeks. Cancer Research UK has announced it would be closing its Plymoth location this month after 35 years of serving the local community. 2 2 Cancer Research in Stoke, Plymoth is shutting up shop for the last time on June 21. The decision was made in March with bosses saying the store was "no longer a financially viable option". A charity spokesperson said: "This decision was not taken lightly, as we understand the significant impact a shop closure can have on the community. "We have a responsibility to ensure that we are using charity funds effectively and efficiently to maximise our contribution to life-saving research. "Whilst we explore all avenues before making the decision to close a shop, unfortunately, the Stoke (Plymouth) shop was no longer a financially viable option." They thanked the staff and volunteers for having been "powerful ambassadors" for the charity. Locals have been left heartbroken at the news with Councillor Jemima Laing calling the shop "part of the fabric of life" in the community. She told BBC: "People have described it [the shop] to me as a 'hub' which is so much more than a shop and offers a listening ear to people, often grieving, as they drop off their donations." The shop has put out a notice board with the bittersweet message from the staff. The sign read: "Our last day of trading will be Saturday, 21st June, which is a very sad for myself, my wonderful volunteers and of course you, our customers. "In the meantime please continue to support the shop, the only charity shop in the village!" Beloved department store chain shutting more locations with clearance sales on now until final May 25 deadline Customers can also leave goodbye messages in the book at the store before it closes for good. It comes as another charity is set to close 77 branches this year with the majority already shut. Disability charity Scope, which has locations in England and Wales, revealed they have been struggling financially. The closures were first announced in January as part of a move that could see 1 38 of the brand's stores ceasing operation. Bosses explained the chain has experienced declining footfall and increasing costs, including higher rents as well as staff costs and energy bills. RETAIL PAIN IN 2025 The British Retail Consortium has predicted that the Treasury's hike to employer NICs will cost the retail sector £2.3billion. Research by the British Chambers of Commerce shows that more than half of companies plan to raise prices by early April. A survey of more than 4,800 firms found that 55% expect prices to increase in the next three months, up from 39% in a similar poll conducted in the latter half of 2024. Three-quarters of companies cited the cost of employing people as their primary financial pressure. The Centre for Retail Research (CRR) has also warned that around 17,350 retail sites are expected to shut down this year. It comes on the back of a tough 2024 when 13,000 shops closed their doors for good, already a 28% increase on the previous year. Professor Joshua Bamfield, director of the CRR said: "The results for 2024 show that although the outcomes for store closures overall were not as poor as in either 2020 or 2022, they are still disconcerting, with worse set to come in 2025." Professor Bamfield has also warned of a bleak outlook for 2025, predicting that as many as 202,000 jobs could be lost in the sector. "By increasing both the costs of running stores and the costs on each consumer's household it is highly likely that we will see retail job losses eclipse the height of the pandemic in 2020."
BBC News
28-05-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Cancer Research UK in Plymouth to close after 35 years
A charity shop in Plymouth described by residents as a community hub is to close in Cancer Research UK shop in Stoke has been trading for more than 35 years but the charity decided in March to close it because it was "no longer a financially viable option".Councillors in Stoke said they had been contacted by local people who were "really upset" about the closure. A spokesperson for the charity gave their "heartfelt thanks" to the shop's staff and volunteers for having been "powerful ambassadors" for the charity. Councillor Jemima Laing said the shop had been "part of the fabric of life" in the said: "People have described it [the shop] to me as a 'hub' which is so much more than a shop and offers a listening ear to people, often grieving, as they drop off their donations." 'Not taken lightly' The shop's Facebook page had a notice from the manager which said the shop would close on 21 charity spokesperson said: "This decision was not taken lightly, as we understand the significant impact a shop closure can have on the community."We have a responsibility to ensure that we are using charity funds effectively and efficiently to maximise our contribution to life-saving research."Whilst we explore all avenues before making the decision to close a shop, unfortunately, the Stoke (Plymouth) shop was no longer a financially viable option."
BBC News
13-05-2025
- General
- BBC News
Council plea for more foster carers in Plymouth
Plymouth City Council is urgently appealing for more foster carers to take in children in said there were 534 children living in care Plymouth, but there were only 119 fostering households registered with the council, it Jemima Laing, cabinet member for Children's Social Care, said fostering was a "fantastic opportunity" and carers "could make a huge difference to a child's life"."If fostering is something you're at all interested in, I would really encourage you to reach out to our fantastic team to ask any questions or visit our website to find out more about what's involved," she said. To be considered, the council said applicants must be over the age of 21, have a spare room and be genuinely invested in supporting the wellbeing of children and young could also be entitled to financial allowances of between £350 and £779 per child, per week, depending on the child's age and individual payment includes a weekly allowance to cover the costs of caring for a child or young person as well as a reward foster carers are also eligible for a 50% council tax discount, or full exemption, said the council.
