Another shop has closed its doors in Wokingham town centre for the final time.
The Helen & Douglas House charity shop in Market Place has revealed it will not be renewing the lease on its shop.
It told Wokingham Today that the decision was due to declining sales amid difficult trading conditions and rising costs.
It said that it is standard practice for the charity to review the trading performance of each shop as leases come up for renewal.
There was one permanent full-time member of staff working at the shop, alongside a number of retail volunteers.
Contrary to reports on social media, the charity, which cares for children and bereaved families from Oxfordshire and across the Thames Valley, said that throughout there had been meetings and consultation with those staff and volunteers affected.
The member of staff and volunteers have been advised of this decision, and are being supported by the charity, including help with sourcing alternative volunteering roles within the organisation or local community, it said.
Katie Stuart-Cox, director of retail and trading at Helen & Douglas House, told Wokingham Today: “Sadly it is no longer financially viable to keep our Wokingham shop open.
“Helen & Douglas House has had a retail presence in the town for a number of years, and the decision to close the shop has not been taken lightly.
“I wish to acknowledge and thank the valued contribution of our wonderful staff and volunteers and thank our customers for supporting Helen & Douglas House. There are no plans for any more shop closures at this time.”
The property at 13 Market place is privately owned, and last changed hands for what is understood to be in the region of £600,000 at an investment property auction in March 2024.
As a hospice charity, Helen & Douglas House relies almost entirely on public donations and must ensure it generates sufficient sustainable income to run its hospice services.
Customers can still donate items or shop with Helen & Douglas House at its shop in Woodley, or buy online through its eBay shop at www.ebay.co.uk/str/helenanddouglashouse.
