To celebrate this year’s Pride, Unilever and Superdrug are once again partnering with Switchboard – a nationwide charity helpline at the forefront of support for the LGBTQI+ community.
Unilever’s Pride range of beauty and personal care products exclusive to Superdrug, including Vaseline, Lynx and Simple, are available all year round. Each product has Switchboard's freephone number on pack so those who need support can instantly get it. Unilever are set to donate £40,000 to support Switchboard’s vital helpline, while Superdrug are committing a further £10,000. Combined, this donation will help with training and volunteer recruitment so that no call goes unanswered.
In almost 50 years of operation the Switchboard LGBT+ helpline has become a vital resource of support for the LGBTQI+ community. It’s estimated more than four million calls have come into the helpline in that time, from people looking for support, advice, and guidance. Open 10am-10pm, 7 days a week, and now available via a free 0800 phone number, the helpline has been on-hand to assist callers through difficult and trying situations.
The ‘Celebrate the Pride in You’ campaign will further the brilliant efforts of Switchboard by supporting the running of their in-demand helpline and ensuring their supportive and empathetic volunteers always remain available to callers. The campaign will take over five Superdrug stores and generate excitement on Superdrug.com and social media. Over the course of Pride month, the campaign will amplify the stories of Switchboard volunteers, Superdrug, and Unilever’s proUd Network, alongside an exciting influencer campaign.
Over six years of partnership, Unilever, Superdrug, and Switchboard have created real change by ensuring the helpline number reaches Superdrug shoppers across the UK so that everyone has immediate access to the support they need.
Stephanie Fuller, CEO at Switchboard LGBT+ Helpline:
“We are honoured to be partnering with Unilever and Superdrug for a sixth year this Pride Month! This partnership leverages our organisation immensely. It puts our brand in people’s homes, on products they see daily and use all year round, because our community needs support all year round, and not just during Pride Month.”
“Our partnership with Unilever and Superdrug enables us to reach audiences that we would never be able to reach on our own. Seeing trusted brands like Unilever and Superdrug alongside our own lends confidence to people who may need to call us, which includes people calling for themselves or perhaps about a loved one.”
“Through the generous donations of Unilever and Superdrug over the past six years we have been able to fund the expansion of our volunteer training and bring on a small staff team to enable the work of the organisation. We are grateful for the continued work and commitment of Unilever and Superdrug to Switchboard and the LGBTQ+ community!”
Chris Barron, General Manager, Personal Care, Unilever UK&I:
“We want to do our part to raise awareness of the incredible work and service offered by Switchboard, which is why we’re continuing our support for a sixth year in a row, in partnership with Superdrug.”
“To date, Unilever has donated nearly £200,000 to help fund Switchboard’s helpline. By continuing to support Switchboard, we can continue to raise awareness of the vitally important helpline, and make sure no contact goes unanswered.”
Spreading the joy
This year, Unilever and Switchboard will take their message of hope to the streets with the ‘Reveal the Pride Inside’ float. Appearing at both London and Croydon Pride (on the 1 and 15 July, respectively), and fitted with roaming cameras, the float will capture celebratory moments in the crowd, including kisses and hugs, and broadcast them on the sides of the float to further fuel a sense of love, acceptance, and joy.
The Pride collection is available exclusively at Superdrug, and includes:
- Lynx Unity Body Spray
- Lynx Unity Body Wash
- Simple Biodegradable Cleansing Wipes
- Vaseline Aloe Lip Tin
- Vaseline Intensive Care Aloe Soothe Body Lotion
About Switchboard
Founded in 1974, Switchboard operates a nationwide helpline which offers the LGBTQI+ community a safe space to discuss sexuality, gender, and identity. The helpline is open 365 days a year thanks to dedicated volunteers. You can reach out to Switchboard on IM (switchboard.lgbt) and email (hello@switchboard.lgbt), as well as phone.
NEED TO TALK? Call 0800 0119 100
WISH TO DONATE? Text ‘SWITCHBOARD 5’ to 70085 to donate £5 (or a donation amount of your choice up to £20)
WANT TO VOLUNTEER? Email switchboard.lgbt/volunteer