British Heart Foundation to close 150 charity shops, cut jobs
8 reported
The British Heart Foundation (BHF) announced it will close about 150 of its 640 UK stores and cut jobs, citing rising costs and a shift to online shopping that have made roughly a quarter of its high street locations commercially unsustainable. The charity conducted a review of its retail arm after net profit across its stores fell from £18.8m in 2024 to £3.6m in the year to 31 March 2025. BHF plans to close 90 stores by the end of March next year and the remainder by the following March. The charity employs almost 3,700 staff in its retail operation, with 795 at its head office and a total of 4,545 employees. BHF reported total income of £181m in 2025 but a fall of almost £9m in net income to £129.6m, and the proportion of income allocated to charitable work dropped from 77% to 72%.
What’s reported
BHF is closing about 150 of its 640 UK stores.
Net profit fell from £18.8m in 2024 to £3.6m in the year to 31 March 2025.
90 stores will close by end of March next year; remainder by the following March.
BHF employs almost 3,700 retail staff, 795 at head office, 4,545 total employees.
Total income in 2025 was £181m; net income fell almost £9m to £129.6m.
Income for charitable activities dropped from 77% to 72%.
The charity’s wage and pension bill hit £136m last year; 180 staff are paid £60,000 or more.
CEO Charmaine Griffiths received a £35,000 pay rise to £268,239 for this financial year.
Key figures
Charmaine Griffiths, chief executive of the British Heart Foundation
Allison Swaine-Hughes, chief commercial officer at the charity
Sources: The Guardian
