Membership2017/2018

Charity Retail Association®

The voice of charity retail

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Welcome to the CRA Membership Brochure for 2017. If you’re a charity retailer you’re in the right place!

Membership of the Charity Retail Association, the only body representing the interests of UK charity shops, carries significant benefits and advantages, chief amongst which is the knowledge that you are part of the great family that is our sector.

If you join or rejoin us you will have access to our huge repository of research, guidance and information, designed to help you succeed in your retailing endeavours. You will also know that you are putting your weight, however large or small, behind our lobbying work, our advocacy efforts, and our ability to mount campaigns should anything serious happen. You will gain access to scores of networking, meeting and training opportunities – and you will have the chance to influence us and play your part in deciding our future activities.

ROBIN OSTERLEYChief Executive Officer, Charity Retail Association

80% of UK charity shops in membership

388 Charities in membership

8,500 CRA member UK shops

£1.3bn pa Charity retail sector sales

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WHO WE AREThe Charity Retail Association is the only body in the UK that represents the specific interests of charity retailers of all sizes, to government, regulators and the media.

How we can help you achieve your aimsBy understanding your problems, whether you have a large or small number of shops, or even if you are just starting up, we are here to assist you.

OUR AIMS• Be the voice of charity retail

• Be influential at all levels

• Be a platform for creating a sense of community across the membership

• Provide a first-class customer service experience

• Be the hub for all knowledge, research and expertise for the sector

• Identify, develop and promote best practice and innovation

• Be both proactive and responsive in dealing with developments affecting the sector

“ Supportive to charities whatever their size, always championing ideas.” SUE SUMNER

Retail and Trading Manager, Lindsey Lodge Hospicemember for over ten years

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THE BENEFITSKnowledge

• Effective lobbying and public relations on key issues, such as Gift Aid improvements, rate relief, town centre partnerships and donated stock

• Regular, exclusive market analysis and benchmarking reports covering shop numbers, turnover, sales streams, Gift Aid conversion, rag prices, and much more

• Everything you need to know about retail Gift Aid in one resource in collaboration with HMRC

• Regular news and events updates, keeping you up-to-date with the latest sector issues and opportunities

• Promotion of good practice and high standards through our up-to-date guidance and participation in the Government backed Primary Authority Scheme, offering assured compliant advice on subjects such as trading standards, health & safety and fire safety

• Exclusive access to our website’s members area, containing a wealth of guidance and resources

“ As ‘newbies’ to the world of charity shop retailing we have found the CRA conference, training sessions and news updates to be invaluable sources of help and advice.”

GERRY REILLY Development & PR Manager, Dr Hadwen Trust

member for three years

Networking• Members’ meetings around the country – valuable networking and learning

opportunities

• Special interest groups in Gift Aid, Health and Safety, People Management, Property, Scotland and Stock and Recycling with more planned

• Small Charities Group specifically for charities with 10 or fewer shops – provides a community offering support and networking opportunities as well as help and advice

• Members’ online forum

Exclusive benefits• Free legal advice line

• Security hotline

• Style Me in Seconds Toolkit – encourage young volunteering, charity retail style and change perceptions

• Social Value Toolkit – calculate your shop’s social benefit within your community demonstrating it is ‘More than a shop’

• Discounted attendance at the sell-out, two-day annual Charity Retail Conference, Exhibition and Awards

• Special member rates for recruitment and property advertising on the CRA website - a top channel for sourcing new staff by our members

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HOW WE ARE PROTECTING YOUR INTERESTSThe CRA has a dedicated Public Affairs team, the aim of which is to shape the best charity trading environment possible for our members through influencing policy and the media.

We represented the sector’s interests in 2016-17 by:

Business Rates• Responding authoritatively to all government consultations which might

affect charity shops. These include the Northern Ireland Executive’s review of charitable rate relief, a Scottish Executive investigation into business rates and the Westminster government’s review of the proposed Apprenticeship Levy, amongst many others.

Legislation• Helping to prepare members for changes in policy which will impact on how

they operate, for example by producing guidelines on changes to legal tender which will be introduced throughout 2017 and hosting high level roundtables to discuss how the devolution of income tax powers to Scotland might affect Gift Aid, or how the sector should prepare for the Apprenticeship Levy.

• Acting as your voice in direct negotiations with the government on the new Retail Gift Aid guidance and proposed changes to the system of National Exemption Orders (NEOs) for doorstop collections.

Local Authorities• Empowering members to influence their local authorities when new policies

jeopardise their ability to trade. This has included producing a campaign pack of ready-to-use documents on Council waste charging, and beginning a Freedom of Information project to learn how every Council chooses to give its discretionary rate relief.

“ Excellent forum for members and helps to lend weight to issues affecting the sector.”

DAVID BRINSONRecycling and Donated Stock Manager, Scope

member for over 10 years

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Media• Working proactively with the media to promote issues affecting the sector,

including features on national outlets such as BBC One and Radio 4. We also respond swiftly to mitigate any negative coverage about the sector.

Northern Ireland Campaign• Conducting a specific campaign in Northern Ireland to build a positive image

of the sector amongst local policy makers in response to some negative views. The #MoreThanAShop campaign attracted the support of over 18,000 local charity shoppers in just two months and in October 2016 we hosted an event inside the Northern Ireland Parliament where we secured the support of several elected Assembly Members.

The FutureIn 2017-18, our immediate priorities include:

• Continue to fight for a fairer business rates relief system for the sector to overcome the postcode lottery where only 1 in 7 shops receive an additional 20 per cent relief from their local authority

• Help the sector to adapt to the new Apprenticeship Levy to be introduced in April 2017

• Promote a more positive image of the sector amongst local authorities to overcome issues around waste disposal charges

• Engage with policy makers and politicians on the concept of the social value of charity shops, including events in Parliament

• Monitor the Business Rates review to ensure that the charity retail sector is not adversely affected

• Participate and influence the Business Rates review in progress in Northern Ireland

• Monitor and influence the impact of devolution in Scotland

We work hard to represent all our members and to respond to their differing needs. Whatever the size of your operation, we can help you run your shops effectively and profitably.

“Professional and efficient.” DAVID MAWSON

Trustee, RSPCA London South East Branchmember for over six years

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CONTACT USAddress Charity Retail Association 4th floor, Resource for London building 356 Holloway Road London N7 6PA

Phone 020 7697 4080Email susan@charityretail.org.uk or sarah@charityretail.org.ukWeb www.charityretail.org.uk

Twitter @CharityRetailFacebook facebook.com/charityretailassociationInstagram @stylemeinseconds