What Hope and Aid Direct does

Hope and Aid Direct is a UK-registered humanitarian aid charity founded in 1999 by Charles Storer MBE and headquartered in Ingatestone, Essex, with a sorting warehouse in Basildon. The charity operates a 100% volunteer-led model with no salaried staff, channelling donated funds, in-kind goods, and volunteer labour into the collection, sorting, and trans-European delivery of humanitarian aid to people affected by conflict and displacement. Its current operational focus is Ukraine — through a long-standing partnership with in-country foundation Ukraine on Palms in Kyiv — with active or recent operations also in Gaza, Northern France (Calais), Greece, and historically the Balkans, Moldova, Romania, Poland, and Slovakia.

The organisation's service portfolio centres on three core programmes: the Donate to Divert corporate-surplus donation scheme (which addresses both humanitarian need and corporate ESG objectives), an Aid Donation Service operating through a UK-wide network of drop-off points, and a Logistics Support programme offering truck-sponsorship at £3,500–£4,000 per articulated load. Supporting revenue and engagement streams include The Little Humanitarian children's book (sold at £5.00 per copy via Stripe), the Knitting for Peace volunteer craft programme, legacy and in-memory giving, and community fundraising via the Enthuse platform plus affiliate channels such as Give as you Live, eBay for Charity, Work for Good, and Charitable Bookings. Underlying operational capability is logistics rather than technology: a 2019-plate Scania R 450 truck and two 7.5-tonne vehicles, supplemented by backload arrangements with Ukrainian return-leg trucks and partnerships with Maritime Transport and Delivered for warehousing and palletised movement. No proprietary software platform or AI capability is described.

Revenue mechanics are diversified across financial donations (individuals, community groups, corporations, monthly recurring, Gift Aid), in-kind aid (food, toiletries, clothing, bedding, medical supplies, hygiene products, footwear, household items), merchandise sales, and legacy gifts. The customer base splits between two distinct segments: individual donors and fundraisers on one side, and a smaller set of named UK corporate partners — Whitbread/Premier Inn, Henry Schein, Maritime Transport, Delivered, and Blackstone Stripout — on the other. Since inception the charity states it has delivered aid with a cumulative value exceeding £250 million, with over 107 trucks dispatched to Ukraine and a current cadence of approximately two articulated trucks per month. In July 2026 the organisation converted from a charitable trust to a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO) under Charity Number 1216877.

Name

Hope and Aid Direct

Legal name

Hope and Aid Direct

Website

https://hopeandaiddirect.org.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

1999

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Hope and Aid Direct is a 100% volunteer-led UK humanitarian aid charity, founded in 1999, that collects, sorts, and delivers donated food, medical supplies, and essential goods to people affected by conflict, primarily in Ukraine and increasingly Gaza.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Humanitarian Aid Services

NAICS

Emergency and Other Relief Services (624230), Community Food and Housing, and Emergency and Other Relief Services (6242)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Refugee, IDP & Migration Humanitarian Assistance (BPAGAAAH)

akta.pro secondary industries

Humanitarian Logistics, Supply Chain & Air/Sea/Land Relief Transport (BPAGAAAI), Refugee, Migration & Displacement Support (BPAGABAH)

Keywords

• Humanitarian aid delivery
• Corporate surplus donations
• Volunteer-led charity
• Crisis relief logistics
• Aid convoys

Headquarters

HQ city

Ingatestone

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Supply Chain, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Financial Donations: The charity accepts monetary donations from individuals, community groups, and corporations. These are channelled through an Enthuse platform and used to purchase specific aid items (food, underwear, etc.) and cover transportation costs (fuel, truck logistics at £3,500–£4,000 per articulated truck). Monthly recurring payments are encouraged. Gift Aid is also claimed where applicable.
2. In-Kind Aid Donations: Individuals and businesses donate physical goods — non-perishable food, toiletries, clothing, bedding, medical supplies, hygiene products, footwear, and household items — which are collected, sorted, and distributed as humanitarian aid. No monetary exchange occurs; the value lies in diverting usable surplus from landfill.
3. The Little Humanitarian Book Sales: A children's book published to celebrate 25 years of the charity is sold at £5.00 per copy plus shipping. Revenue supports humanitarian aid delivery. Sales are processed through Stripe.
4. Legacy and In Memoriam Gifts: The charity accepts legacy gifts (bequests in wills) and In Memoriam donations made in memory of deceased loved ones. These provide long-term financial support and are facilitated through solicitors or the charity's own fundraising pages.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

Hope and Aid Direct is a 100% volunteer-led UK humanitarian aid charity that collects, sorts, and transports donated goods and funds from individuals and UK businesses to people affected by conflict and crisis. It operates a fleet of trucks (including a 2019 Scania R 450 and two 7.5-tonne vehicles) and uses backload logistics to deliver aid directly to vetted in-country partner NGOs, primarily in Ukraine and now expanding to Gaza. Core programmes include the Donate to Divert corporate surplus donation scheme, an Aid Donation Service via UK drop-off points, a Volunteer Programme, Corporate Support partnerships, and the sale of a children's book to fund operations.

Product overview

Hope and Aid Direct is a 100% volunteer-led UK humanitarian aid charity offering a portfolio of programmes centred on collecting and delivering life-saving humanitarian aid. The core offering comprises the Donate to Divert programme (corporate surplus donations), the Aid Donation Service (individual aid donations via drop-off points), and the Logistics Support programme (truck sponsorship). Supporting services include The Little Humanitarian book (consumer product), Knitting for Peace (volunteer craft programme), Legacy Giving, Fundraising Support, and Volunteer Coordination. The organisation operates primarily in Ukraine and is expanding to Gaza, having delivered over 107 trucks of aid since 1999.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Donate to Divert A corporate surplus donation programme that helps UK businesses reduce waste disposal costs, meet ESG/sustainability targets, and support humanitarian relief by donating excess stock (non-perishable food, toiletries, clothing, medical supplies, bedding) to those in need.
• Aid Donation Service Accepts donations of humanitarian aid items based on a curated needs list, with drop-off points across England for collecting donations of food, toiletries, clothing, and household supplies from individuals and communities.
• Corporate Support Programme Corporate partnership programme enabling companies to fulfil CSR/ESG goals through product donations, financial support, warehousing, logistics sponsorship, and Employer Supported Volunteering.
• Donate to Divert Logistics Support A 40-tonne articulated truck sponsorship programme requiring £3,500–£4,000 per truck to deliver humanitarian aid across Europe, with brand recognition offered to sponsors through newsletters, social media, and homepage updates.
• The Little Humanitarian A heart-warming children's book celebrating 25 years of the charity, teaching children about kindness and humanitarian work. Sold at £5.00 per copy plus shipping, with revenue processed through Stripe supporting humanitarian aid delivery.
• Legacy Giving & Memoriam Planned giving programme allowing supporters to leave a charitable bequest in their Will, or set up memorial funds in memory of loved ones, supporting vulnerable people in emergencies. Facilitated through solicitors or the charity's own fundraising pages.
• Volunteer Programme UK and home-based volunteer opportunities including truck driving, drop-off point management, warehouse assistance, social media, fundraising, corporate engagement, logistics, and admin support.
• Fundraising Support Tools and platforms to help individuals and groups organize fundraising events and challenges, with access to Enthuse fundraising pages for personalised campaign tracking.
• Knitting for Peace A global volunteer knitting programme where participants create blankets and squares that are distributed to people in crisis zones, providing warmth and demonstrating care.

Named customers4 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered supporting, core and major.

• Rose Media GroupsupportingGTM or Marketing Partner · 22 July 2025Rose Media Group is Hope and Aid Direct's public relations agency partner, providing media outreach and brand visibility campaigns. Representatives visited the charity's HQ to understand its operations first-hand, with a view to launching a public relations campaign.
• Maritime TransportcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 21 July 2025Maritime Transport, the UK's leading integrated road and rail freight logistics provider (£400m+ turnover, 3,000 employees, 40+ sites), donated a 2019-plate Euro-6 Scania R 450 truck and trailer to Hope and Aid Direct in July 2025. This major fleet upgrade significantly boosts the charity's capacity to collect and transport bulk aid across the UK and Europe. Maritime first collaborated in 2022 transporting 50,000 duvets and pillows from Whitbread to Romania.
• Whitbread / Premier InncoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022Whitbread and Premier Inn have partnered with Hope and Aid Direct since summer 2022 under Whitbread's 'Force for Good' programme. In 2022 they donated 50,000 duvets and pillows for Ukraine. The partnership has expanded to include up to 2,000 mattresses from Premier Inn hotel room refreshes, delivered via Ukraine on Palms. Nathan Philip, Supply Chain Commercial Manager, leads the partnership. Future plans include mattresses for Türkiye earthquake survivors.
• Ukraine on PalmscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUkraine on Palms (Charitable Foundation) is Hope and Aid Direct's key in-country partner in Ukraine, founded in 2015. It provides up-to-date needs lists, handles all paperwork and customs advice, and distributes aid to families, shelters, hospitals, and schools in and around Kyiv including Irpin. Hope and Aid Direct donated its truck 'Frantic' to Ukraine on Palms for internal Ukraine deliveries and contributes funds towards their operational running costs.
• Henry ScheincoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHenry Schein, the world's largest provider of healthcare products and services to dental and medical practitioners, donates surplus dental and medical supplies to Hope and Aid Direct instead of disposing of them. Numerous truckloads of high-value equipment and consumables have been shipped to Ukraine via Ukraine on Palms. The programme has expanded to include Henry Schein Spain, with further international shipments planned.
• DeliveredmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDelivered, part of the UK's top two overnight networks (APC Overnight for parcels, The Pallet Network for pallets), provides warehouse storage and logistics support for Hope and Aid Direct. Their Sales Director Jamie Barker arranged on-demand storage and movement of palleted and bulk goods, which has been invaluable for the charity's operations.
• Herts for RefugeessupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerHerts for Refugees leads the festival tent and sleeping bag salvage collection in conjunction with Hope and Aid Direct. They coordinate volunteer access to festival venues (e.g., Reading Festival) and manage the sorting of discarded tents and sleeping bags for onward distribution to refugees in Northern France.
• Collective Aid / Care4CalaissupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerHope and Aid Direct supports Collective Aid in Calais, which includes assisting Care4Calais in the UK, by supplying salvaged tents, sleeping bags, blankets, and winter clothing for vulnerable adults and children in Northern France.
• eBay for CharitysupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerHope and Aid Direct can be selected as a chosen charity on eBay for Charity, allowing sellers to donate a portion of their sale proceeds to the charity.
• Work for GoodsupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerHope and Aid Direct has partnered with Work for Good, a platform that specialises in business giving, enabling employers to easily donate to the charity.
• Charitable BookingssupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerHope and Aid Direct is partnered with Charitable Bookings, a platform that allows individuals to book trips or dining out while generating donations for the charity.
• Give as you LivesupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerGive as you Live is a browser extension and platform that enables regular online shopping to generate donations for Hope and Aid Direct when users select it as their supported charity.
• Blackstone StripoutmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBlackstone Stripout (hospitality/office disposal specialist) donates surplus furniture and equipment including small refrigerators alongside mattresses and bedding for Ukraine relief.
• Ukraine on Palms suppliers (mattress frames)supportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerAs part of the Premier Inn mattress donation project, Ukraine on Palms sourced a company to produce bed frames at cost price, enabling the complete bedding solution to be delivered to displaced people in Ukraine.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Ukraine Aid Direct: Closest peer: another UK-based volunteer-led charity focused specifically on delivering humanitarian aid to Ukraine via in-country partners. Shares the small volunteer model, truck convoy logistics, and UK corporate donor base with Hope and Aid Direct.
• Human Appeal: UK-based humanitarian NGO delivering aid, food, medical care, and emergency relief across crisis zones including Ukraine, Gaza, and Yemen. Comparable in mission, donor base, and active conflict theatre overlap.
• Penny Appeal: UK humanitarian charity running orphan sponsorship, emergency relief, and water projects with active operations in conflict and disaster zones. Comparable in scale, UK community fundraising, and direct aid delivery.
• In Kind Direct: UK charity that redistributes surplus consumer goods from manufacturers and retailers to charitable causes. Directly comparable to the Donate to Divert programme and serves an overlapping ESG-driven corporate donor base.
• Muslim Aid: UK-based international humanitarian charity delivering emergency relief, food, and medical aid in crisis zones including Gaza and Ukraine. Directly comparable in UK community fundraising model and active conflict footprint.
• Collective Aid: UK-registered charity operating in Northern France to provide humanitarian aid to displaced people in Calais and surrounding areas. Directly comparable as an existing operational partner for Hope and Aid Direct and a fellow UK-rooted refugee aid organisation.
• ShelterBox: UK-registered international disaster relief charity providing emergency shelter and essential supplies to families displaced by conflict and natural disasters. Operates in similar geographies with a comparable logistics-intensive aid delivery model.

Broad incumbents

• British Red Cross: Largest UK humanitarian organisation with global crisis response operations including Ukraine, Gaza, and refugee support. Serves as the broad incumbent comparable for end-to-end humanitarian aid delivery, though at vastly greater scale and with paid staff.
• Disasters Emergency Committee (DEC): UK umbrella body coordinating fundraising and emergency response across 15 major aid charities. Operates at much larger scale than Hope and Aid Direct and frequently runs Ukraine and Gaza appeals, representing the broader incumbent humanitarian fundraising landscape in the UK.
• Concern Worldwide: Major international humanitarian NGO with refugee and emergency response programmes including the Rwandan refugee programme in which trustee Mark Belton previously worked. Provides broad incumbent perspective on the same humanitarian aid space.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/hopeandaiddirect/?locale=en_GB
• LinkedInuk.linkedin.com/company/hope-and-aid-direct
• Instagraminstagram.com/hopeandaid/?hl=en
• Xx.com/hopeandaid

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Hope and Aid Direct