Meet our Policy and Research Team!
Celeste, Policy and Research Manager, and Katie, Partnerships and Impact Co-ordinator, make up our wonderful Policy and Research Team.
We believe to be heard we must make a noise. In Kind Direct has always been a practical response to the widening gap in need in society, by distributing essential products to communities through you. We recognise we also need to tackle the underlying, systemic reasons why so many people are forced to rely on services like yours, by advocating for change .
Our team gathers data and insights, including the feedback and stories you share with us. We share this with sector partners, companies, policymakers and Parliamentarians to help improve the policies and systems in which we all operate.
We seek to fill national data gaps, raise awareness of social issues, and reduce the shame and stigma so many feel when accessing support and products.
Hygiene poverty
We know from our recent Network Impact survey that half of the people you support are experiencing hygiene poverty. Building on our landmark research, the Human Right to Hygiene and our One Year On report, this year we’ll continue to build the evidence-base around the scale and impact of hygiene poverty to raise awareness among policymakers and the public, to build momentum for change.
Cost-of-living
We know the continuing cost-of-living crisis is seeing the people you support forced to make the decision between heating, eating and keeping clean. That’s why we’re proud supporters of the Guarantee our Essentials campaign, led by Joseph Rowntree Foundation and The Trussell Trust, which calls for a fit-for-purpose social security system.
Spotlight on: The State of Period Equity in the UK
Our Human Right to Hygiene research revealed the role that period inequity plays in hygiene poverty. Period equity is a society where everyone has shame-free access to the products, education and support to manage their period. Last week, together with Irise International and Essity, we launched the first in-depth review of the state of period equity in the UK. It reveals lifelong cycles of exclusion caused by period inequity, starting at school, continuing into the workplace and beyond.
We worked in partnership with an advisory group of organisations from our network, specialist charities, academic researchers, and people with lived experience of period inequity, to collect up-to-date nationally representative data that filled gaps in existing research.
The report includes recommendations for policymakers, businesses, and civil society focused on ensuring everyone has access to the period products, education and shame-free support they need to manage their period. We’ll be working with civil servants, Parliamentarians and sector partners throughout the year to take forward these recommendations and secure the policy change needed to ensure no one is held back by their period.
Supporting our sector
You’ve told us that, over the last 6 months, the need for your services has increased while your income has decreased. As members of the Civil Society Group, we’ll share network insights to advocate for a more supportive operating environment for charitable organisations.
Product waste
At In Kind Direct, we believe that everyone deserves access to life’s essentials and no usable product should go to waste. And we know you do too, with three-quarters of you telling us that the products accessed through us help people feel valued and cared for. Our More than Products research increases awareness of the value of products far beyond their retail price and we will continue to make the case for the impact of product-giving and circular economy initiatives.
Digital poverty
Many of you are supporting people to get online. Last year, we were proud to join the National Delivery Committee of the Digital Poverty Alliance, working alongside a range of organisations to help end UK digital poverty by 2030. We also continue to learn from our Tech4Schools pilot, working with Amazon, TeachFirst and the Learning Foundation to ensure classrooms have the technology they need to support learning.
Childhood wellbeing
We believe every child should have the opportunity to play during the summer months and go back to school ready to learn. Through our annual summer campaign with Save the Children, Summer of Play, we promote the importance of play in childhood development.
Get involved!
Our approach has always been shaped by our network and the people you support every day. We’ll be in touch throughout the year to share opportunities to be involved in our research and policy activity but we’re always available for a chat about our work so please get in touch!
Latest Posts
View allSt Andrews Youth Club is a community-based youth club and registered charity that has been enriching young lives for more than 150 years. Supporting over 500 members each year, the club provides a sense of belonging, fun and informal education, helping young people build self-confidence, develop respect for others and grow into active, positive members of their communities.
Read moreWith a new Prime Minister and a new Government agenda, we explore what the early policy priorities could mean for tackling hygiene poverty. From cost-of-living measures to a renewed focus on devolution and local decision-making, find out how we think these changes may shape the landscape for our network communities across the UK.
Read more2025 has been a year of significant progress for In Kind Direct, both in the scale of our impact and in how we are shaping our future. The numbers speak for themselves: together with our partners, we supported more people than ever before, reaching 930,000 people each week through our network of over 9,000 charitable organisations.
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