Heartbreak as charity shop in UK town closes after ‘60% rent hike’ | UK | News

Volunteers were left in tears after the shock closure of a popular charity shop in a British town following a 60 per cent rent increase. The Dogs Trust branch in Tovil, Maidstone, will close on Friday, May 9, after 10 years operating in the Kent town. The charity said rent for the site had risen from around £20,000 to £32,000, making the prospect of continuing operating “unsustainable”.

Locals described the closure as a significant loss to the community, as the branch in Farleigh Hill operates a dog food bank and sells donated furniture, clothing and household items. Assistant manager Jenny told KentOnline: “It’s awful, absolutely awful. I think we all cried. Even the volunteers who hadn’t been here for long were so stunned.”

Branch manager Leslie added: “We provided coats for the homeless and sleeping bags for the homeless [and] pants and socks for special needs school. “We’ve truly become part of a community here.”

Luke, 27, who has been volunteering at the store for almost four years, said it had “transformed” his life.

“I was treated like family from day one,” he said. “Everyone was really nice and helpful. I never left my house.

“It’s sad because I learned so many skills. When this place closes, I won’t be able to find the people I know to come back to.”

A spokesman for Dogs Trust said: “We are very sorry to announce that we will be closing our Maidstone charity shop in Kent, a decision that has not been taken lightly.

“Unfortunately, the store has recently undergone a significant rent increase, making it no longer financially sustainable for us to continue operating the store.”

They added: “We would like to thank our incredible staff and volunteers for their dedicated service and everyone in the local community for their fantastic support which makes the world of difference for the dogs in our care.”