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Charis Shop expands following record demand during COVID-winter

Charis, the Peterborough-based company dedicated to supporting charities and organisations to better help their most vulnerable customers, has today announced a further expansion in the range of crisis goods and services that it can provide through their dedicated online shop, many same day.

This follows a record number of new partners choosing to source essential products from the Charis Shop over 2020 and into the new year. Over the winter period Charis saw a 43% increase in partners accessing emergency support and research suggests this will continue over the year with partners citing the end of furlough, increased rates of indebtedness and acute poverty within certain communities as key drivers of need.  94%* of organisations who use Charis Shop currently highlight that the needs of their customers have increased due to COVID and the subsequent restrictions that are in place demonstrating the acute need that exists.

Dedicated to delivering services to meet the needs of the most vulnerable, Charis has responded to this upsurge in demand by expanding the range of emergency help they will deliver throughout the UK. From this month organisations including charities, local authorities and housing providers will have access to a range of new items including furniture, essential kitchen appliances and food and clothing vouchers in addition to emergency utility vouchers and essential white goods already available. 

A number of well-regarded organisations have selected Charis Shop as a key partner to support their customers, including Clarion Housing Group, the UK’s largest provider of affordable housing.  The Group’s charitable foundation, Clarion Futures, provides support and opportunities for people living in Clarion homes and communities and has been working with Charis to provide food and fuel vouchers, as well as white goods, to residents in need.

The pandemic has had a huge impact on our residents, with many experiencing money worries and struggling to put food on the table. By working with Charis, we’re able to provide emergency relief to those in need before offering tailored support to help them get back on a more stable financial footing. The support of like-minded partners like Charis makes such a difference, and we’re delighted to be working together.

Steph Noyce, Head of Money and Digital at Clarion Futures

Allyson Broadhurst, Managing Director of Charis added: ‘Our proven capability coupled with our latest NPS rating of +40 and our increasingly diverse range of partners we work with is testament to both the need that exists across Great Britain, and the unique role that Charis provides.’

We are proud this spring to launch our expanded range of essential products and services, based on direct partner and customer feedback about what is most needed within the communities we jointly serve.

Allyson Broadhurst, Managing Director at Charis

During 2021 Charis will build upon its existing relationships within the housing, local authority and education sectors.  Allyson Broadhurst continues “Charis can help deliver support quickly and directly, when and where it’s needed.  As a company that has been at the forefront of innovating grant schemes to support the most vulnerable in society, I am delighted that Charis continues to lead in delivering crisis support in this unique and highly effective way.”

Notes to editors:
*129 people surveyed 15-21 March 2021
Charis Shop is an online tool that allows pre-qualified employees or named individuals to access funds that have previously been deposited by the partner organisation.  All spend is tracked, with controls restricting the products that can be selected.  
For more information contact Alec Broadhurst on 07903 798442