In-Kind aid for Java

In Kind Direct, the charity founded by HRH The Prince of Wales to distribute goods from industry to good causes, is coordinating a UK in-kind response to the recent disaster on the Indonesian island of Java.

It has written to emergency relief organisations inviting them to post details of supplies, equipment and services they need on its web site. Companies will be asked to respond by donating the goods in-kind and offers will be channelled through In Kind Direct. This free matching service is available to all UK charities working in the region.

Explains chief executive Robin Boles, “Many companies will undoubtedly donate money but others will wish to help in a different way by giving goods in-kind. This is particularly true of manufacturers and retailers and smaller businesses, some of which haven’t sufficient quantities to donate to the major emergency relief organisations or prefer to give to smaller charities.” She continues, “Apart from helping to link charities with donors, we want to ensure goods donated are exactly what charities working in the disaster area need. We know from experience that not all goods donations, however well-intentioned, are appropriate. The website “wish list” will help overcome this.”

Any registered charities working in Java may request goods via In Kind Direct’s disaster relief website which also has details of how companies can give goods in-kind. ends here

NOTE FOR EDITORS: In Kind Direct is the only organisation coordinating in-kind giving on a UK-wide scale, working with hundreds of household name companies to distribute surplus goods to voluntary organisations working at home and abroad. Since operations started in 1997 £50 million worth of goods have been donated by 650 companies and 3,700 charities have benefited, and by providing an efficient alternative to landfill for surplus products, so has the environment.