Men’s underpants and why charities need to think about them

Today I want to talk about men’s underpants, and what they should mean to the charity sector. OK I know that sounds a little odd, but please bear with me. I’m perfectly serious. You see, I've long been fascinated by a global economic indicator known as the Men’s Underwear Index. Apparently you can spot when the economy is heading towards a downturn because men stop buying underpants! Picture the scene, if you will. Your average man notices that his underwear is looking a little tired, but says to himself, “Money’s a bit tight right now, and nobody’s going to see my underpants, so I won’t replace them this year.” You can see why it might actually be a reliable indicator, can’t you? I think it’s interesting because it’s about discretionary expenditure (an item that is non-essential). As underpants are not a luxury item you’d think it wouldn't be one of the first things sacrificed when people are feeling less well off. But it is. And here is why I think it’s relevant to charities: Because we mustn't scrimp on less ‘flashy’ basics I think one of the reasons men might feel able to neglect ‘refreshing’ their underwear collection is that most people that they interact with in their daily lives won’t actually see their underwear. There are many roles within charities which are similarly unflashy and unseen but are of essential importance. The person who thanks our donors. The person who works in the back office to ensure that our