Staff, students and members of the local community came together at De Montfort University, Leicester (DMU) to pack 10,000 hygiene kits, supporting children and families across the UK.
Organised by DMU spin-out charity Germ’s Journey, in collaboration with DMU’s Widening Participation team, the Soaper Stars Pick & Pack event brought volunteers together to assemble hygiene kits and educational resources promoting handwashing, infection prevention and healthy habits.
Originally planned as a two-day event, volunteers reached the 10,000-kit target in just one day, working together to prepare the kits for distribution to schools, hospitals and community organisations.
Volunteers had the opportunity to contribute to a project helping children and families understand the importance of good hygiene.
DMU staff member Ben Stirk was among the volunteers who took part in what he described as a really enjoyable day. He said: “The day was a great example of what can be achieved when people come together for a good cause. Everyone threw themselves into the task, working across several assembly lines and constantly refining the process to improve both speed and efficiency.
“The great music, positive atmosphere and shared sense of purpose made the day really enjoyable. Most importantly, knowing that the packs we assembled will help children across the UK learn healthy habits made the effort feel truly worthwhile.
"I always get a real sense of satisfaction from using my time to help others, and this was no exception.”
The response to the initiative has already been strong, with around 230 organisations, including schools, hospitals, healthcare settings and community organisations, applying to receive the kits.
Once distributed, the kits will help children and families learn about germs, handwashing and how everyday habits can help prevent the spread of infection.
Germ’s Journey was developed from research at DMU by experts in microbiology and education, including Professor Katie Laird, Professor Sarah Younie and Dr Sapphire Crosby. Its educational resources help children understand germs, the importance of handwashing and how to protect their own health and that of others.
Research published in Frontiers in Public Health in 2024 evaluated an earlier version of the Soaper Stars packs, which included the same educational resources. The study found a 38 per cent increase in hand-hygiene compliance among paediatric patients in hospitals, while workshops in primary schools improved pupils’ understanding of handwashing and how infections spread.
Dr Sapphire Crosby spoke on behalf the Germ’s Journey team, she said: “Packing 10,000 Soaper Stars packs in just one day is an incredible achievement, and we’re absolutely delighted!
“We’re so grateful to our sponsors, volunteers and everyone who gave their time, support and enthusiasm to make the event such a success. We’re now looking forward to distributing the packs across the UK, helping children and families learn about infection prevention in a fun and engaging way and build healthy habits for the future.”
The initiative was supported by Metis Health, Elipse Health, Cheeky Panda, the Worshipful Company of Environmental Cleaners, Knowlex, Supra Perfecta, Project Merchandise and Safer Space. Financial support has been provided to Germ’s Journey as a grant from Pfizer Ltd.
The initiative highlights how collaboration between DMU, volunteers and industry partners can help children and families learn about good hygiene and how to prevent the spread of infection.
Posted on Monday 26 October 2026