This May and June, Savers is supporting cleft condition charity Operation Smile UK to change a life in seconds – by tapping ‘yes’ at the checkout.
Savers has launched a new nationwide fundraising campaign to support the work of Operation Smile, inviting customers to turn everyday shopping into life-changing support for children born with cleft conditions.
From 1 May to 30 June 2026, Savers shoppers across the UK will be asked at the till if they would like to donate 20p on any transaction over £3 through Pennies, the digital charity box. A quick ‘yes’ tap could help raise more than £100,000 to fund free, safe surgery and ongoing care for children and adults with cleft conditions.
This new campaign builds on the success of Savers and AS Watson’s global partnership with Operation Smile. The group’s ongoing support for Operation Smile helps to support life-changing surgeries and provides wider cleft care including speech therapy, nutritional support and training for healthcare teams in partner countries.
A chance to change a life
Every three minutes, a child is born somewhere in the world with a cleft condition. In many countries, lack of access to safe surgery means children grow up struggling to eat, speak and even breathe. Social stigma is another harsh reality, with many children facing exclusion from their communities and schools.
Operation Smile is tackling this directly. The charity works in more than 30 countries, bringing together volunteers including surgeons, anaesthetists, nurses, speech therapists and nutritionists to provide free surgery and follow-up care. Surgeries can be completed in as little as 45 minutes, yet the impact lasts a lifetime. The charity also trains and empowers local healthcare professionals in the countries they work in, providing a legacy of on-going treatment and support.
‘Everyday shopping moments are being turned into life-changing surgery’
Mike Straney, Operation Smile director of partnerships, says: ‘By giving customers the option to make a 20p donation, everyday shopping moments are being turned into life-changing surgery and care for children born with cleft conditions.
‘For us at Operation Smile UK, partnerships like this are incredibly powerful. They allow us to reach millions of people in a simple, accessible way, removing barriers to giving and making it a simple part of everyday life. It’s a great example of what’s possible when retailers, brands and charities come together with a shared purpose, creating meaningful social impact at scale.’
The donations raised in Savers stores will go directly to support Operation Smile’s work. Small change or small donations can make a big difference: £2 could provide a colouring book for a child waiting for life-changing surgery whilst £10 could provide a special feeding bottle to help a child get the vital nutrients they need. Meanwhile just £15 could help buy essential surgical equipment for a child’s surgery. £50 could help fund a training session for medical volunteers at a surgical programme. £150 could help provide life-changing surgery and transform a child’s life.
Everyday actions, extraordinary impact
Savers customers can help children just like Dilan. Born with a cleft lip in Guatemala, his early years were filled with challenges. Eating was difficult and his family often faced stigma in their community. After receiving surgery through Operation Smile, Dilan can now smile, eat and speak with confidence. His story is a reminder that even the smallest donation can help create a future filled with possibility.
Pennies, the award-winning micro-donation charity, has already enabled millions of small digital donations across the UK. By integrating Pennies into this campaign, Savers is making it simple for every shopper to play a part in changing lives.
For more information about Operation Smile, visit www.operationsmile.org.uk/fundraise.
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