Charity shops have long been a quiet constant on British high streets. They are places where donated goods find second lives, where volunteers give time and care, and where communities intersect in everyday, unremarkable ways. For decades, they have sat at the crossroads of retail, social purpose, and local identity. Yet across the UK, this ecosystem is under strain. Shops are closing. Volunteer numbers are harder to sustain. Costs are rising faster than income. And when char