Retail giant John Lewis High Wycombe will take over south Bucks charity shops next month as it goes head to head with another big High Street name to boost sales.

Partners from the department store firm will pit their wits against staff from NatWest in a scheme dubbed ‘Store Wars’ to help charities Rennie Grove and Helen and Douglas House.

Each company will take over five shops across south Bucks – including Rennie Grove’s stores in Beaconsfield and Bourne End and Helen and Douglas’s operations in Marlow and High Wycombe.

The ten mixed teams will assist the stores in their merchandising and their sales, and will compete for the highest increase in profit for one day.

David Donovan, operations manager selling, at John Lewis High Wycombe said: “This is a wonderful opportunity for Partners to share their expertise with the local community as well as a creative way for them to develop commercial and leadership skills.

“Partners have volunteered and raised funds for both of these local charities in recent times so there is a special connection with them.”

Rennie Grove Hospice Care provides specialist hospice care at home for patients with cancer and other life-limiting illnesses, as well as support for their families.

Helen and Douglas House provides respite and end of life care for children and young adults with life-shortening conditions, as well as support and friendship for the whole family.

Caroline Nightingale from NatWest’s said. “At NatWest we encourage our staff to get involved in local volunteering opportunities, and these ‘store wars’ are a great chance for our team to raise funds while also putting their enterprise skills to the test.

“Taking over the shops for a day will help us to learn and put into practice some of what our customers do day in day out in running their own businesses.

“It’s important that we understand their challenges, and this will give us first-hand experience.”