BHF launches postal Black Friday campaign to off-set Covid-19 shop closure losses

The British Heart Foundation has launched a Black Friday donations campaign to off-set income losses due to the closure of its High Street stores amid the second lockdown.

The second lockdown came into force for a month on November 5 and includes Black Friday shopping on 27 November, when retailers look to entice customers with offers.

The campaign calls for the public to donate any goods, which they are replacing in the Black Friday sales, to the charity.

To adhere to social distancing they can do this via the charity’s freepost donation service. All the items will be sold via its High Street shops, when they can safely open, and online channels, such as eBay.

“With our high street shops in England temporarily closed, we need the public’s support now, more than ever, said the charity’s retail director Allison Swaine-Hughes.

“As Black Friday approaches, you can still easily support us through our retail operation, either by shopping online with us or by donating your unwanted, quality smaller items via our freepost donation service.”

The charity added that the Covid-19 pandemic has had a “devastating impact” on the charities income, in particular the closure of its shops and cancellation of fundraising events. This has seen its net income slashed in half this financial year.

It stresses that the closure of more than 600 shops amid the current lockdown “will continue to have a significant impact on the charity’s income.

In September the BHF restructured to make savings amid the pandemic. This saw three of its senior executive leave and its eight directorates reduced from eight to six.

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