As charity shops reopen their doors this week, along with other non-essential retailers, more of them are moving services online to help survive the multi-million pound hit they have taken during the coronavirus crisis.

The Charity Retail Association has calculated that UK charity shops lost a total of £3.4million for every day they were closed during lockdown, as reported by Sky.

Charities have also had to scale back their own fundraising and seen a big hit from events like marathons being cancelled this year. 

Research from Pro Bono Economics shows the sector is facing a £10.1billion funding shortfall, at a time when more people than ever need to rely on them for help.

To offset the losses, charities are having to innovate. 

Disability charity sense is tapping into selling on Amazon, eBay for antiques and collectables and Depop shop for designer and vintage clothing.

The British Heart Foundation, which has shops in Gloucester, Cirencester and Cheltenham, is starting a new postal donation service to make it easier for people to support the charity. Donations of up to 10kg can be posted by printing off a freepost label that can be emailed.

Charity shops reopening the week have new measures in place to keep staff, volunteers and customers safer. Government guidelines say that donated items have to be stored for 72 hours to minimise the small chance that they may be contaminated with coronavirus.

Photo credit: Google Maps April 2019