When I started this thread I wanted to consider the relationship between charities and the Council, particularly the effects of the number of charity shops on the high street. However, I felt I could not do this justice without considering the tax and financial advantages given to charities, in more detail. Sorry about that ! Charities are good things ..... right ? Probably .... but... it depends....maybe. How does a charity spend its money I would hope that most of the money raised by a charity is spent on  its "primary purpose". I believe this usually does not involve a conventional charity shop although a charity might have a "trading" primary purpose: https://www.charitytaxgroup.org.uk/tax/income-corporate-taxes/trading/806-2/ By way of example, the aims and activities of our very own Compton Care are set out on the Charity Commission website as: "To relieve and provide palliative care to persons principally resident in Wolverhampton, Dudley, Sa