How Simplyhealth’s wellbeing event goodie bags supported marginalised communities

3/4/2024

Who: Simplyhealth is the healthcare provider to over 2.3 million customers.

When: November 2022

Where: London’s Natural History Museum

What: A goodie bag of wellbeing items packed in a reusable artisanal sari wrap

Results: These purposeful parcels helped to provide employment for people of the marginalised Dalit community, as well as women at risk of gender-based violence in India and funded a literacy lesson for over 100 people in Madagascar, where illiteracy is rife. Meanwhile, Simplyhealth communicated brand purpose at this well-attended B Corp community event, underscored by a seeded paper postcard highlighting the impact of the wellbeing goodie bags.

Wellbeing-related goodie bags for B Corp event

Simplyhealth, newly certified as a B Corp in 2022, were headline partner for B Corporation’s event to celebrate the mega milestone of reaching 1,000 certified businesses in the UK, titled “1000xBetter.” As a B Corporation in their own right, Simplyhealth came to us with a firm brief. It was members of the B Corp community on the invite list to this illustrious celebration, so it was crucial that these gifts stood up to the high ethical stands of those leading the charge when it comes to purpose.

Charlotte Cook, ESG Lead explains:

“Our brief for the event was to deliver a gift to guests that would bring our purpose to life. We wanted the gift to celebrate positive health and wellbeing and inspire guests to take care of themselves, all while doing good in the world.”

Thoughtful social enterprise gifts in reusable packaging

“Social Supermarket were the perfect partners for us because we knew through their extensive product range we could handpick a selection of ethical and sustainable products, and team at Social Supermarket would carefully consider the best way to present the items.”

At the event, attendees had the opportunity to help themselves to goodie bags, as a way to reduce the kind of waste that often goes hand-in-hand with events.

“The team at Social Supermarket surpassed our expectations. They sourced the high volume of items at speed. When putting the items together, they recommended an artisanal sari (so no waste) and worked with a local social enterprise called Mail Out, who work with people with disabilities. We were able to share this with our guests via a helpful label on seeded paper, so our guests knew every detail of the gift had them and others in mind – it was purposeful and delivered with care and thoughtfulness.”

Supporting marginalised communities

Just some of the gifts’ tangible impacts included…

Artisanal sari wrap supporting women at risk of gender-based violence

Instead of tote bags or other gift wrap, the reusable sari wrap not only saved the use of packaging materials, but created approximately 150 hours of work for the artisan team in Pondicherry, Southern India. The women in this group are at risk of gender-based violence, from marginalised local communities, with many of them being mothers.

According to the UN, when women work, they invest 90% of their income back into their families, compared with 35% for men. This means an investment in empowering women through products such as this helps to improve not just the woman’s life, but those of her children too.

Candles creating employment for people from the marginalised Dalit community

Similarly, the miniature clay candles from these event gifts provided around 33 hours of employment for four people from the marginalised Dalit community in India.

Two male Dalit potters in Dharavi worked in tandem to create the pots over 7 hours at the potter wheel, followed by laying the pots in the sun to dry for 2 days. After that, each one is placed in the furnace for about 8 hours then the pot is finally ready.

To fill the pot with the candle, the wax-filling work is done by Dalit ladies, again by a minimum of two people over a course of 12 hours, pouring the wax in the pots three times with gaps in between.

Soap funding a two-hour literacy lesson for 112 people in Madagascar

Meanwhile, the bar of soap, as well as being made with plant-based ingredients and plastic-free packaging, funded a two hour literacy lesson for the 112 members of the Mahampy Weaving Cooperative in southeast Madagascar, where many of the women involved are completely illiterate. Some cannot even write their own name and sign important documents with their fingerprint.

Memorable event merch creates lasting impact

Charlotte adds:

“Long after the event we wanted our guests to remember with fondness why everyone came together – to demonstrate how businesses can be a force for good. Our gifts embodied this message and celebrated positive health and wellbeing. We had so many messages of appreciation after the event and were delighted with the response.“