You buy, we donate

Help children in need of hygiene products.

In partnership with Coop and Unilever

For the first time, Co-op Unilever and In Kind Direct are coming together with a campaign to help children in need of hygiene products.

From 22nd July until 11th August 2026, when you buy selected personal care and laundry products from participating brands, you’ll help unlock a donation of essential hygiene products to support children across the UK.

It’s simple. You buy, we donate.

Every child deserves a clean start in life

Right now, 4 children in every classroom* in Great Britain are in need of hygiene products.

Our research from report ‘A clean start in life’ explored the realities of hygiene poverty through the voices of children and young people. Something as simple as clean clothes, deodorant or soap can make a huge difference to a child’s confidence and wellbeing.

For many children, going without these essentials can mean missing out, struggling to socialise, or even being bullied. In fact, we found that 845,000* children have missed school because they can’t keep clean.

“We find young people tend to be quite excluded and bullied from a very young age as a result of perhaps just, you know, simple dirty clothes or unwashed hair.” – Network organisation

This simply shouldn’t be a reality in the UK.

That’s why Co-op, Unilever and In Kind Direct are coming together to help.

Read the full report

How can you help?

If you buy any of the products listed below at a Co-op between 22nd July and 11th August 2026, Unilever will donate products to In Kind Direct to support children across the UK.

Shop now

How your support makes a difference

Thanks to your support, this campaign is estimated to generate thousands of donated products. We will then distribute them through a nationwide network of charitable organisations supporting families via our online catalogue.

This creates real and tangible impact in local communities.

“Helping people in Nottingham Feel Good is at the heart of what we do, and having access to donated products through In Kind Direct helps us to make that possible”

– The Renewal Trust, Nottingham.

“We’re so pleased to be able to access the laundry products and essential toiletries that support our families each week.”

– Caxton House Community Centre, London

“One particular individual, a single mother of two, has faced significant financial hardships over the past year. Her income barely covers rent and food, leaving little to nothing for other essentials. When she received the Dove products, her relief and gratitude were palpable. She expressed how something as simple as quality shampoo and body wash made her feel dignified and more confident. It also meant that she didn’t have to choose between buying soap and other essentials for her children.”

– Network organisation

“We want people to feel good. If a young person feels good about themselves, they will access other activities. They will do other things, they will make friends.” – Network organisation

Find out more

Other ways you can make a difference

If you’re a company who want to support our mission to reduce hygiene poverty in the UK, get in touch: donations@inkindirect.org

If you’re a charitable organisation, foodbank, community centre or school and need access to these products, join our network here.

1.The Campaign

A UK based ‘you buy, we donate’ promotional campaign run by Co-op (a registered society registered in England and Wales no 26715R) in partnership with Unilever UK Ltd (a limited company registered in England and Wales no 334527) and In Kind Direct (a registered charity in England and Wales no 1052679).

During the campaign period, purchases of products from selected Unilever brands in participating Co‑op stores and online will contribute towards a donation threshold. Once that threshold has been met, Unilever will make a donation of products to In Kind Direct in accordance with the applicable campaign terms and conditions, the key terms of which are set out below.

2. Campaign Period

Starts: 22 July 2026

Ends: 11 August 2026

3. Participating products and Co-op stores

– The promotion applies to purchases of any products from the participating Unilever brands in participating Co‑op stores and online in the UK during the campaign period.

– The participating Unilever brands are: Lynx, Sure, Sure Men, Simple, Radox, Dove, Dove Men, Persil, Surf, Comfort, Domestos and Cif.

– The participating Co-op stores are all retail stores in the United Kingdom operated by Co-op under the Co‑op food brand, excluding any other businesses, divisions or societies within the Co‑op group.

4. How the donation works and donation details

– Unilever will donate a fixed quantity of products to In Kind Direct. Unilever’s donation will consist of approximately 30,000 products (with a minimum of 27,000 products and a maximum range of 33,000 products being donated, depending on availability).

– The donation is triggered only if: the campaign is run in the participating Co-op stores/online by Co-op for the whole campaign period; and more than 10,000 products from the participating brands are sold during the campaign period (the donation does not increase based on additional purchases beyond this threshold).

– Products to be donated will include hygiene and personal care items (e.g. hand wash, shower gel, deodorant), subject to stock availability.

5. Use of Donation / Impact

– In Kind Direct will distribute the donated products as per their standard model to their charitable network to support people in need across the UK.

For more information visit www.coop.co.uk/in-kind-direct-unilever

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