A new report by the British Retail Consortium (BRC) has found
that retailers and their customers raised £540m for good causes
in the last financial year.
The report – Supporting Charities,
Communities and Customers – provides an analysis of UK
retailers’ charitable giving for the first time. It also
finds that in 2022/23:
- Retailers raised £200m for good causes through fundraising,
with an additional £150m donated directly by the businesses
themselves.
- A total of 69m meals and £76m worth of products were donated
to charities and organisations supporting those in need.
- Colleagues across the industry volunteered 1.7m hours of time
supporting retail community programmes.
- And colleagues also donated £20m through payroll donation
schemes.
This is despite economic headwinds and a rise in the
cost-of-living, which have seen retailers’ profit margins
squeezed and consumers keeping a closer eye on their finances.
Thousands of charities have benefitted from the efforts of
retailers, their colleagues and customers.
2022 saw UK retailers donate huge amounts – both cash and
emergency goods - to support the Ukrainian people in the
aftermath of the Russian invasion. Many retailers also set up
fundraising efforts so that customers could offer their support,
often matching donations to amplify the impact. Overall, tens of
millions of pounds were donated to this vital cause.
The report also shines a spotlight on the exemplary work taking
place within retail to support colleagues and the role of
micro-donation technology. The industry’s charity – the Retail Trust – works
with colleagues and businesses to promote physical, mental and
financial wellbeing. Micro-donations – facilitated by Pennies - act as a digital
version of the traditional charity box, giving people the option
to make a small donation when paying by card or phone, in-store,
or at an online checkout.
Helen Dickinson, Chief Executive of the British Retail
Consortium, said:
“It is fantastic to see the scale of support that retailers,
colleagues and customers have given to good causes in the last
year, despite the tough economic landscape. Whether fundraising
in stores & online, making salary donations, or volunteering
time for local projects, retailers are helping their communities
in a wealth of ways.
“New micro-donation technology is making it even easier for
customers to support good causes, while the industry’s own
charity – The Retail Trust - is delivering a wide range of
services and training to support the welfare of everyone working
in retail. Retailers’ focus has always extended beyond the bottom
line. They recognise the opportunity that the scale of the
industry presents in having a wider impact on our society and
this report shows they are making a real difference right across
the country.”
Chris Brook-Carter, Chief Executive of the Retail Trust,
said:
“Half of retailers are now seeing a rise in absences due to
mental health issues, with the high cost-of-living and a surge in
abuse and retail crime contributing to deteriorating wellbeing
across the sector. And we’re seeing this reflected in the calls
coming through to the Retail Trust’s wellbeing helpline, the
counselling sessions we’re delivering, and the more than £650,000
we gave out in financial aid in the last year alone.
“But we remain inspired by the more than 200 employers we’re
working with who are also taking tremendous efforts to improve
wellbeing; by delivering more training, using data to better
understand how their workforces are feeling and by empowering
their people to protect their mental, physical and financial
health. Together, they are creating happier and healthier retail
workplaces and contributing to a sustainable and successful
future for our industry.”
Alison Hutchinson CBE, Chief Executive of Pennies,
said:
“Well done to the BRC for preparing and releasing this report so
we can bring a spotlight to the fantastic support the retail
sector has for the voluntary sector. At Pennies we are making it
easy for retailers to enable digital micro-donations and are
welcoming a growing number of new partners across all retailing
channels. Indeed, we have seen digital micro-donations grow
by over 45% year on year despite the challenging economic climate
showing the generosity of retailers and their customers.”
-ENDS-
Notes:
- The full BRC Charity Report 2023 can be read here.
- Leaders from across the industry will be discussing the
wellbeing of their workforce at the Retail Trust’s Leaders’
Summit in London next month. Visit www.retailtrust.org.uk/leaders-summit
for more information.
