“We’ve missed you!”

BHF Scotland ready to welcome customers back to its shops

British Heart Foundation (BHF) Scotland is preparing to welcome customers back to its stores across the country, as lockdown restrictions continue to ease.

The nation’s heart charity will be reopening its high street shops and will be able to accept donations in store again next Monday 26th April. The BHF’s home stores reopened in Scotland earlier this month. BHF shops in England and Wales reopened last week and saw their busiest day ever, recording £1million in sales in a single day.

James Jopling, Head of BHF Scotland, said: “It goes without saying how excited we are to get all our shops back up and running in Scotland and we cannot wait to see our loyal customers, staff and volunteers once again. The coronavirus crisis has had a seismic impact on the income of the BHF and the last 12 months have been the hardest in our 60-year history.

“Our shops play a huge role in funding vital research into heart and circulatory diseases and run purely on the support of the public, which is why we never take for granted a camera, book or sofa that’s donated to us. Every item donated and sold can help us to support the 700,000 people living with heart and circulatory diseases across Scotland and aid our recovery from the devastating impact of the pandemic.”

As well as raising funds for life saving research, the BHF’s network of shops across the country also provide a wider benefit to society. Last year alone, BHF shops and stores saved 71,000 tonnes of items from ending up in landfill. That includes around 200,000 sofas, as well as other furniture, electrical items, books, toys and 14,000 tonnes of clothing.

Customers who’ve taken time during lockdown to declutter are being urged to donate preloved items, and there are plenty of bargains and finds for those looking for a Spring makeover too.

Jane Flannery, Senior Regional Director at the BHF, said: “Our teams have been working tirelessly to ensure everything is ready for reopening. Our number one priority will be ensuring the safety of everyone who shops, works and volunteers with us and we have made it easier for people to donate either in store, by post or through our free collection service.

“We’re so fortunate to have such loyal supporters across Scotland and many of them have already been contacting our shops telling us how much they are looking forward to coming back in or donating items to us. We’ve really missed them too.”

In line with Scottish Government guidelines and to ensure the safety of all those accessing the BHF’s shops, a number of changes have been made in the last year, including perspex screens at till points, hand sanitiser points throughout shops, limiting the number of people in each shop at any one time, enhanced cleaning schedules, social distancing on the shop floor and people will be asked to wear masks unless exempt. 

Customers will also be encouraged to pay by card or contactless payment where possible.    

For those not ready to hit the high street, smaller items such as branded clothing, jewellery, vinyl records and cameras, can be donated using the BHF’s freepost donation service.

Customers will larger items to donate can arrange a Covid-secure home collection online or via their local store and have their items picked up free of charge. Goods such as sofas, beds, bookcases, table and chairs, homewares, TVs and other electricals in working order would be welcomed.

To find your local BHF shop and full details on how you can help support us, visit www.bhf.org.uk