Devastated volunteers say they’ll have to close a much-loved charity shop due to a 60% rise in rent.
The Dogs Trust store in Tovil, Maidstone, will shut on Friday, May 9, after a decade serving the local community.
Staff and volunteers at the Dogs Trust branch in Tovil, from left: Kerryann, Val, Leslie, and Luke
The charity said its rent had risen from around £20,000 to £32,000, making it impossible to continue.
A Dogs Trust spokesperson said: “We are very sad to announce that we will be closing our Maidstone charity shop in Kent, which is a decision that has not been taken lightly.
“Unfortunately, the store has recently been issued with a significant rent increase, which makes it no longer financially sustainable for us to continue operating the shop.”
The Farleigh Hill branch has been one of the charity’s larger retail sites, selling donated furniture, clothing and household goods and acting as a local drop-off point for donations.
It also ran a dog food bank, helping owners who are struggling financially to care for their pets.
Inside the much-loved shop in Tovil, near Maidstone
Manager Leslie, who started off volunteering after the pandemic, said the branch had grown into something far beyond a retail unit.
“We’ve provided coats for the homeless, sleeping bags for the homeless, pants and socks for a special needs school,” she said.
“So we’ve really been part of a community here.”
The team have also drawn crowds for the last three years with their Christmas grottos, as well as hosting summer events and fundraising displays.
In a final tribute to the area’s history, the shop has dressed its closing window in a VE Day theme — its last day falling the day after the commemorations.
The store is marking VE Day with a themed window display ahead of its closure
“We’re really proud of what we’ve done here for 10 years,” Leslie said.
“It’s going to be sad to go, but we’re going to go out with a bang.”
Assistant manager Jenny moved to Kent from Cumbria and joined the Maidstone branch as a volunteer around four years ago before later taking on a paid role.
She said the depot-style shop was different from a typical charity store because it handled far more stock and had closer contact with the public.
“It’s not like a normal charity shop, being a depot, there’s so much more work to do, she said.
The Dogs Trust has been in Tovil for a decade
The Maidstone branch also helped supply other Dogs Trust shops across the south east.
“Some of those Dogs Trust shops rely on their own local donations, but they need us to supplement them,” Jenny said
“The customers are so generous in this area. It’s unbelievable, the quality and quantity of donations we get.”
She added that staff also supported grieving owners who came in after losing their pets.
Many people donated beds, toys and other belongings after a dog had died, often while in tears.
Shelves stocked with donated goods inside the store
Speaking about the closure, Jenny said the news had been deeply upsetting for staff and volunteers.
She said: “It’s horrible, absolutely horrible.”
Fighting back tears, she added: “I think we’ve all cried. Even the volunteers who haven’t been here very long – they were very stunned.”
The closure was especially hard because the shop had helped many younger volunteers build confidence and move on into work or other opportunities.
“Many of them move on to proper jobs or other voluntary places, and it’s a joy to see them progress and gain confidence and skills.”
Val has volunteered at the Maidstone shop since it opened
Valerie, who has been with the branch since it opened, joined after retiring from a long career in dog grooming.
She said she immediately loved the atmosphere, adding: “The camaraderie was lovely.
Among her proudest memories was when Leslie arranged for her to meet TOWIE star and animal welfare advocate Pete Wicks at a London book launch.
“When he came in from the back, he came straight up to me,” Valerie said.
“He said, ‘Val’, and he kissed me. Thank you for all you’ve done for the Dogs Trust.”
Long-serving volunteer Val with TV personalities Pete Wicks and Sam Thompson
She said the closure would leave a real absence.
“I’m now going to miss this because it’s kept me and my brain good.”
Lori, who has volunteered for more than four years, walked in during one of the hardest periods of her life, when her sister was terminally ill.
“I was at a very low point in my life. So I thought, oh, I’ll do that. It could be something else to think about. It was the best thing I could have done.”
She said the shop sustained her after her sister died, and described the atmosphere the team had built together.
Volunteer Lori said she was “absolutely devastated” by the closure
“There’s a lot of laughter, a lot of singing and dancing.”
She recalled one occasion when music was playing, and she and another volunteer started line dancing while sorting clothes.
“We hadn’t heard the doorbell. I looked up, and there was this lady just standing there watching us.
“I said, ‘Oh, I’m so sorry.’
“She said, ‘It’s lovely to see.’”
Displays inside the Dogs Trust charity shop, described as an “Aladdin’s cave full of treasures”
When she heard the shop was closing, she said she broke down.
“I was absolutely devastated. When Jenny rang and told me, I cried on the phone, and she cried.”
Luke, 27, has been volunteering for almost four years and said the shop transformed him.
“Since day one, I’ve been treated like family. Everyone’s been really kind, helpful. I never used to go out of my house.”
He said losing the team would leave a gap that would be hard to fill.
Volunteer Kerryann said staff at the shop had been her “support bubble”
“It’s upsetting, because I’ve learnt so many skills. When this place closes, I’m not going to have the people that I knew to come back to. It’s like family.”
Kerryann, 28, joined two years ago as an animal lover looking for something new.
“All the staff here have been my support bubble,” she said.
“They’ve been really good towards me. I’m just a little bit sad that it’s coming to an end.”
Customers have also expressed disappointment.
Customer Sandra Howe said the closure was “such a shame”
Sally Daw said: “It’s a vast Aladdin’s cave full of treasures.
“The staff work very hard, and everything is displayed neatly in separate categories.
“I’ve never known another charity shop with such a wide variety of items.”
Regular shopper Sandra Howe said: “It’s the closest one to me. A lot of people locally use it.
“The ladies here, they’re always so chatty. You come in, you have a chat. It’s such a shame.”
The store sells furniture, clothing and household goods
Michèle Humphrey said she always left with “some sort of knick-knack that I didn’t know I needed until I saw it.”
The Dogs Trust said it was grateful to everyone who had supported the shop.
“We would like to thank our incredible staff and volunteers for their devoted service, and everyone in the local community for their amazing support, which has made the world of difference to dogs in our care.”
Supporters can continue shopping or make donations at Dogs Trust locations, including the Canterbury Rehoming Centre and the charity’s store in Deal, while the shop’s dog food bank will now be run locally by Making a Difference to Maidstone (MADM).
The landlord has been approached for comment.