About us

In Kind Direct was founded by HRH The Prince of Wales in 1996 and operations began in 1997.

 

We encourage manufacturers and retailers to donate their high quality surplus for distribution to good causes and In Kind Direct is the only organisation coordinating UK-wide in-kind giving. Our network of voluntary organisations represents every kind of cause – family welfare, sickness and disability, homelessness, emergency relief, environment, ethnic support and community groups.

 

Companies donate surplus goods, mainly newly manufactured items. They might be ends of lines, seasonal items, samples, customer returns, things in damaged packaging or with slight defects. Goods include toys, toiletries, tools and trainers; household appliances and cleaning products; clothes, shoes, sportswear and gear; bedding and linen; office supplies and equipment worth almost £50 million in value of goods have been donated by over 600 companies, and thousands of charities have benefited.

 

Voluntary organisations pay an annual registration fee to belong to In Kind Direct’s network and, in return, receive a monthly catalogue of available goods. They request items from the list, paying a handling charge, which includes delivery to their door. Nothing obtained from In Kind Direct can be sold, raffled, bartered or traded; everything must be used by the charities either to run their operations or be given to the people they serve.

 

Donor companies are able to save money in storage and disposal costs, make progress towards meeting their corporate social and environmental goals and gain the satisfaction of helping good causes as well as good PR from greater involvement with the community.