In Kind Direct
 | |
| Industry | Charity/Third Sector |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1996 |
| Headquarters | City of London |
Key people |
HRH Prince Charles, Founder and Patron Robin Boles, CEO |
| Website |
Website Facebook Page Twitter Page |
In Kind Direct is a charity in the United Kingdom founded in 1996 by HRH Prince Charles. The charity redistributes surplus goods from manufacturers and retailers to UK charities working both domestically and abroad.[1] In Kind Direct is one of The Prince's Charities, which is the largest multi-cause charitable enterprise in the United Kingdom.[2]
Since foundation in 1996, the charity has redistributed £130 million in value of goods from over 930 companies. 6,700 voluntary and community organisations have received products via In Kind Direct, helping millions of people in need.[1]
Operations
In Kind Direct provides a single contact point for companies with goods to donate. The charity has the infrastructure to accept large quantities of goods and then store, sort and deliver them to charities.[3] In Kind Direct accepts all kinds of stock including: end of lines, slight seconds, samples, items with damaged packaging and returns. In Kind Direct uses an online catalogue which resembles a commercial retail website, but is only accessible to non-profit organisations.
The charity has a dual agenda: it seeks to divert usable goods from being wasted or land filled for environmental benefit, but in doing so it releases additional resource to the charity sector.[4]
Brand protection issues
In Kind Direct addresses brand protection concerns by thoroughly vetting all organisations within its network and monitoring distribution carefully to ensure products are used for good. Charities are not allowed to sell, trade, barter or fundraise with the goods received through In Kind Direct.[5]
In addition, the charity conducts spot checks and is vigilant in investigating any possible breaches of these rules.
Examples of donors
Donors to In Kind Direct include:[6]
- ACCO UK
- Adidas
- Amazon
- Austin Reed
- B3 International
- Beiersdorf UK
- Berghaus
- Black & Decker
- Boots Group
- Bunzl
- Cleenol Group
- Colgate Palmolive
- Disney
- Ellesse
- GlaxoSmithKline
- Home Retail Group
- JD Sports
- Johnson & Johnson
- Kickers
- Kimberly-Clark
- L’Oréal
- Lush
- Mattel
- McBride
- Mitre
- Mothercare
- New Balance
- Next
- Portmeirion Pottery
- Procter & Gamble
- Reckitt Benckiser
- Ricoh
- Sara Lee Corporation
- SCA Tissue Europe
- Staples
- Taylors of Harrogate
- The Body Shop Foundation
- The North Face
- Unilever UK
- Usborne Publishing
- Vivid Imaginations
International network
In 2013 In Kind Direct was the founding member of a new charity, In Kind Direct International (IKDI). IKDI was established to set up a network of charities from a growing number of countries, all redistributing surplus new goods from donors to charities, not for profit organisations, associations and social enterprises. Members of the IKDI Network work together to share information about donations and to share knowledge and expertise to enable goods to be redistributed to charities and their beneficiaries in the most effective way.