DONATING UNUSED PRODUCTS

To minimise waste and extend the life of perfectly usable stoma and ipouch supplies, we actively guide patients toward charitable channels rather than letting unopened products gather dust or end up in landfill.

Our team also collects surplus products from the patients we look after and ship them directly to organisations that redistribute medical aid overseas.

Similarly, you can contact your local stoma nurse and ask whether you can leave your unused items with them. They will then liaise with charities to ensure the supplies reach those who need them.

Alternatively, you can contact these organisations directly and send your items straight to them. Some of them may also be able to arrange collections.

Jacob’s Well Appeal

One such organisation is Jacob’s Well Appeal. This long-standing charity has, since 1984, been sending donated ostomy supplies, along with other medical and surgical items, to hospitals and clinics in countries lacking essential resources.

If you have unused stoma or ipouch items you’d like to donate directly, it is easy to work with Jacob’s Well Appeal yourself. Simply: 

1. Remove all original packaging 

2. Pack your supplies into a small postal box

3. Address it to:
Jacob’s Well Appeal, Jacob’s Well Yard,
Swinemoor Lane, Beverley, HU17 0JX

Donors are asked to cover the postage costs, which are typically minimal when using compact packaging. You can call 01482 881162 or email office@jacobswellappeal.org with any questions.

FootPrints 2 Africa

Another place you can send your unused items is FootPrints 2 Africa. FootPrints 2 Africa is a UK‑registered, faith‑based charity run entirely by volunteers. They collect donated ostomy, continence, wound care, menstrual, and other essential healthcare supplies, and deliver them to under‑resourced hospitals, trusted partners, and vulnerable individuals across Africa.

If you are an individual and need to send small quantities, they kindly ask that all non‑bulk donations be posted to the address below:

Stoma
Limekiln Farm
Middle Lypiatt
Stroud
GL6 7LR

Email: sam@footprints2africa.org.uk

Note: They do not accept any medications or sharps.

Bulk Donations:Institutional or Bulk Contributions

They are always grateful for the generosity of hospitals, manufacturers, suppliers, pharmacies, support groups, and organisations that support their mission. If you represent one of these groups and have a bulk donation to offer, they would be delighted to hear from you.

They can arrange a collection to ensure your supplies reach the places where they are needed most.

You can use the Footprints2Africa – Bulk Donation Form here.

You can also visit their website here. 

By funnelling unused stock into these programmes, we not only reduce environmental impact but also contribute to improved healthcare in communities around the world. 

Many of these regions face severe shortages of basic medical supplies, from rural clinics to makeshift field hospitals in war-torn areas. Your donated unused products can mean the difference between comfort and infection, dignity and distress, in places where medical supplies are virtually impossible to source. In refugee camps, where thousands flee conflict with no guarantee of safe surgery or follow-up, these contributions improve lives, ensuring that patients recovering from colorectal operations or emergency stoma formations receive essential care rather than risking complications. 

By taking this small step, you help divert perfectly good medical supplies from waste streams and ensure they reach patients, often in extreme poverty or displacement, who critically need them. Your generosity not only preserves the environment but also brings relief, dignity and vital medical support to some of the world’s most vulnerable communities.