CHARITY Young Lives vs Cancer is closing all of its shops.
First to go will be the one in Badminton Road, ending a presence of more than 30 years in Downend.
The charity says its chain of 13 shops generated a net income of around £450,000 last year, but this was “a lower return on investment than the charity can achieve through other income-generating activity”.
Young Lives vs Cancer was formed from a merger of Bristol charity CLIC (Cancer and Leukaemia in Childhood) and the Malcolm Sargent Cancer Fund for Children in 2005, and was known as CLIC Sargent until 2021.
CLIC was set up by Frenchay businessman Bob Woodward after he lost his 11-year-old son Robert to neuroblastoma in 1977.
He set up the shops to help fund CLIC’s ‘Home from Home’ service, providing free accommodation for families of young cancer patients in hospital, which was the first of its kind in the UK.
Head of retail Sarah Wilsher said: “The decision to close Young Lives vs Cancer’s chain of charity shops wasn’t an easy one.
“Our shops have played a big role in funding our vital services.
“We are incredibly grateful for the dedication of our shop staff and volunteers: they are second to none.
“We also want to say a huge thank-you to the local communities who have been so supportive of us over the years.”