Exclusively exhibitors are invited to donate housewares products to In Kind Direct at the end of the show (which runs from August 24-25 at Islington’s Business Design Centre). Housewares – such as cookware, tableware, utility, cleaning products and small electricals including kettles – are among essential items that are much needed. The charity initiative is organised by Progressive Housewares, with the support of Exclusively.
In Kind Direct are a UK charity who believe that everyone deserves access to life’s essentials. Founded in 1996 by HRH the Prince of Wales, they distribute new consumer goods donated by companies to a range of charitable organisations operating in the UK. So far, they have supported over 11,200 charitable organisations and distributed over £275m worth of essential products
“We offer a one stop solution connecting companies and their products to thousands of charities, community groups, foodbanks and schools who need those essentials to support a wide range of social issues within their communities,” explains Eva Learner from In Kind Direct’s Corporate Partnerships team.
“Insight is at the heart of everything we do; our recent charity network survey highlighted the urgent need for essential housewares and kitchenware,” she continued. “Some 69% of respondents identified household items as one of the most needed product categories in the next few months. Key products within this category are small appliances like kettles and hoovers, as well as kitchen and catering products.”
HARV (Hyndburn and Ribble Valley Domestic Violence Team), one of the organisations receiving products from In Kind Direct explains how it uses housewares and home products: “We support families moving into refuges who have nothing. In Kind Direct enables us to give families a welcome pack, including toiletries, cleaning supplies, new bedding, saucepan sets and a kettle – everything they need.”
A refugee family taken in by HARV reflects on the importance of the welcome pack: “I arrived with the children by train with only the things we could carry. I felt so guilty as the kids had to leave everything behind. I cried when the refuge worker gave me the new bedding, kitchenware and all the things we’d need and told me they were mine to keep. Getting new things made us feel like we were cared for.”
Details of how to make donations at Exclusively will be confirmed nearer to the event. Meanwhile, housewares suppliers and retailers can find out more about supporting Kind Direct by going to www.inkindirect.org or contact the team on donations@inkinddirect.org
Top: In Kind Direct provides charities and community groups with much needed products including vacuum cleaners and drinks flasks.
