About us
Generating £170m per year in profit and harnessing the skills of more than 160,000 volunteers nationwide, charity retail promotes charitable causes and an environmentally sustainable retail experience.
Set up over a decade ago, the Charity Retail Association is the only body in the UK that represents the interests of charity retailers. We have over 330 members with, between them, over 7000 shops.
>> Our aims and our vision
>> What we do
>> Annual Reports
>> Who we are
>> Board of Directors
Our aims
We work to:
- Influence and monitor legislation and regulations that affect charity retailing.
- Promote the benefits of charity retailing to the environment, the community and to charity.
- Be the major source of expertise and up-to-date information on issues affecting the charity retail.
- Promote good practice. See Code of Charity Retailing.
- Work closely with other relevant organisations to support our members.
Our vision
A successful charity retail sector in the UK, actively promoted and supported by the Charity Retail Association.
What we do
- Effective lobbying and public relations on behalf of our members on key issues including Gift Aid improvements, correct waste charging, donated stock supply.
- Promoting of good practice and increased public support through the Code of Charity Retailing, the self-regulatory scheme for charity retailers.
- Carry out and commission research, market analysis, guidance and information about charity retailing.
- Host the Annual Conference, Exhibition and Awards
- Offer training opportunities and support
- Host active Special Interest Groups and networking opportunities
- Provide an online discussion forum
- Offer a free, 24 hour legal advice line and tax advice line
Annual Reports
Who we are
- David Cryer (Chair) - Helen and Douglas House
- Vicki Burnett (Vice Chair) - Cats Protection
- Diane Locke (Vice Chair) - British Heart Foundation
- Sue Azzopardi - Cancer Research UK
- Karen Britton - Rainbows Hospice for Children and Young People
- David Brodala - South Bucks Hospice
- Dan Corns - St Richard's Hospice
- Dr Richard Cuthbertson - Oxford Institute of Retail Management
- Ken Dunning - Arthritis Research Campaign
- Ben Merrett - DebRA
- Colin Wakefield - St Barnabas and Chestnut Tree Hospices
- Anne Webb - Oxfam GB
Staff
Warren Alexander: Chief Executive
Warren joined the Association as Chief Executive in November 2009. Before that he was Chief Executive of Core, a charity funding research into digestive disorders. He has worked in the charity world for much of his career, mainly in marketing and fundraising. He has previously been Head of Fundraising at the Prostate Cancer Research Centre, University College London and Head of Business Development at the Royal Society for the Promotion of Health and has worked in a variety of charities concerned with education, health and overseas aid.
Isabelle Adam: Policy and Public Affairs Officer
If you ring up with a query, or to order an item, Isabelle is usually the person you need to speak to; she looks after the Handbook, shops database and the goods which the Association makes available.
Paula Melville: Administration and Events Officer
Paula is responsible for organising the Association's events, including the Charity Retail Conference and other networking events held throughout the year. She also looks after the People Management Interest Group. Previously she worked in the fundraising team of a member charity, where she was responsible for the administration of a chain of charity shops.
Susan Meredith: Communications Manager
Susan has looked after Member Services at the Association since July 2005, and the website and office IT since 2007. She studied web development at Birkbeck College, University of London and looks forward to expanding membership further and bringing the Association's website to a wider audience.
Wendy Mitchell: Head of Policy and Public Affairs / Deputy Chief Executive
Wendy joined the Association in August 2011 and previously led the Public Affairs team at the London Borough of Newham. Before that, she was a Senior Policy and Public Affairs advisor at the voluntary sector organisation Turning Point. Wendy's immediate priorities will be to get to grips with the policy and public affairs priorities for the sector, and to meet with members to understand their needs.
Michelle Moran: Business Development and Marketing Manager
Michelle has worked for the Association since March 2007. Her main focus is promoting commercial membership to organisations wishing to increase their visibility among our charity members, through our Annual Conference and Exhibition, and other marketing and networking opportunities.
Prior to working with the Association, Michelle delivered award winning work and business results for 10 years within the financial services sector, including partnering with The Prince’s Trust on business to business projects.
Cristina Osoro Cangas: Researcher
Cristina has been the Association's Researcher since August 2007. She is responsible for the research carried out by the Association which includes the Monthly and Quarterly Market Analysis of the sector, and other special reports. Additionally she provides information to support the Association's lobbying activities and liaises with research agencies about consumer research. She has a MSc in Environmental Management and therefore is very interested in the environmental benefits of charity retailing. She is also responsible for the Environment Interest Group.