Charities' charity targets PR and marketing companies

Spring clean your storerooms and studios and give all those redundant press samples, competition prizes and products left over from photo shoots to good causes. That’s the message of the charity In Kind Direct’s new campaign targeted at PR and marketing consultancies and ad agencies.

The kind of surplus In Kind Direct wants to attract includes products left behind after promotions or photo sessions and samples from press launches. A number of consultancies already pass on such varied things as CD-Roms with foreign language packaging (the games could be played in English), kitchenware, toys, books, clothes, sports goods, videos and promotional giveaways.

"In this ever-more CSR conscious world, in-kind giving is an easy way for companies to support charities and, by diverting surplus goods from landfill, to help the environment too." says chief executive Robin Boles. Founded in 1996 by HRH The Prince of Wales to provide an organised solution to surplus from which the voluntary sector could benefit, In Kind Direct is the only organisation coordinating in-kind giving on a UK-wide basis. Hundreds of charities benefit by receiving the things they and the people they serve need every day for a fraction of the usual cost. They are able to make their funds go up to ten times further.

Charities in In Kind Direct’s network can request a great variety of goods from the monthly catalogue. They undertake not to sell, barter or trade the items, reassuring donors, particularly those with valuable brands, that their products won’t turn up on market stalls or in car boot sales. This has enabled the charity to attract hundreds of well known companies to donate almost £38 million worth of goods since operations started in 1997. Among these are Lever Fabergé, Procter & Gamble, Early Learning Centre, the Disney Store, Kimberly-Clark and Pentland Brands.