Oxfam has revealed a 15% drop in donations to their 700 nation wide shops over the last twelve months. They have cited the continuation of the recession as a reason for this.

The prevailing economic climate has posed both opportunities and difficulties for charity shops in Cambridge. As a result of the recession, people are trying to save more and make their money go farther. However, since people are buying fewer new items, such as clothes, they are holding onto old items for longer and donating less to charity.

Rachael Middleton, manager of Oxfam shop on Burleigh Street, commented that people were more likely to hold on to things for financial gain for themselves and their families in the recession; online sites like Ebay or other auctions, were preferred over giving items away.

She said, ‘Although donations have nationally been down by 15%, here in Cambridge we have not fond that that is the case. We have been receiving high volumes of donations. The issue is more that the quality of donations is decreasing.’

This may be the result of the so-called ‘Primark-effect’ whereby consumers opt for cheaper, low-quality items. Often charity shops cannot sell items that are donated to them when they are of such low quality.

Karen Robertson, manager of the British Red Cross shop, which is also on Burleigh Street, noted a fall in the donations of high value items, in particular of gold or silver jewellery. She told Varisty that people were more likely to sell upmarket designer items, such as a Karen Millen dress, rather than give them away.

However, the recession has not meant that people are becoming more selfish; both Oxfam and the British Red Cross have noted an increase in cash donations as a response to the current humanitarian crisis in Haiti.

Charity shop MIND in Cambridge has seen its takings increase by a third over the past twelve months, despite the appearance of Primark on the same street.

Charity shops are learning to diversify and find new ways of generating money. Oxfam recently set up an online store, which has contributed almost £2.4m sales this financial year. Furthermore, the Oxfam store in Cambridge is seeking to tap into niche markets by selling catwalk design bridal dresses at a fraction of the normal cost.