Hello!
I have never made soap before!
I work with primary schools in the East Riding of Yorkshire, delivering enterprise activities and helping teachers to set up mini- enterprises.
One of my schools' topics is Health for Life and they would like to run  an enterprise project in the Summer Term to make soaps to sell at the Summer Fair.
I wonder if any of you expert soap makers has a really easy, safe recipe that we could use?  I would also love to ask an expert to come and talk to the children about what they do, how they started and give a demo.  If there is anybody in my area who could do something like that, I'd be really grateful!
Yours in anticipation.......

Hello and welcome to the forum.

A group or individual has to have a Safety Assessment in order to make soap and toiletries to sell.

We did have a member in the ER (no necessarily your part though) but unfortunately she's stopped making soap.

(I've had a thought - but can't promise anything, let me know which area of the ER you are).

Wow!  I didn't know about the safety assessment!  Thanks very much, EJ.  Does that mean the project is not going to be possible?
Re your thought:  I work all over the East Riding but the school in question is in Market Weighton.

I'm not in the UK so I can't be too useful with that aspect, but...

First, welcome!

Secondly, it's possibly possible, but it will cost some money and take some time.  There are some people on this board who are safety assessors (like Scott), you can contact him and ask if it is possible and/or advisable in your situation.

Keep in mind that if you are teaching children to make soap, that lye and raw soap are highly caustic and can very easily cause burns.  For adults who can follow directions and proper safety precautions, it is quite safe (although most of us still get some minor burns or small zaps occasionally), but I personally wouldn't have kids near something that can so easily burn them if they aren't careful.

Hello and welcome,    :buttrf: :buttrf: :buttrf:

In my area and my childrens school they made some MP soaps with the children. They buy a kit and children have a go with colours and designs. Is that what you are thinking about. That is done without lye. Maybe thats what you might be looking for. You can make many designs using shape cutters.

Mp is not hard and fun to make with children. But to sell you need to have an assessment.

I might manage to sort something for you - and I do need to visit the area at some time need to have a words with someone first.


I went to the Infants and Junior schools in Market Weighton in the 1950s.

Thank you very much for the warm welcome and all the help and advice I have received in such a short time!
Is it necessary to have a safety assessment if we are just selling to parents at the fair?
I want to deliver the project to show what running a business is like - developing the pupils  teamwork skills, decision making, problem solving, leadership, money management etc but also to have some fun while doing so.
If it isn't going to be possible to make soap, are there any other health related products that could be sold?
EJ, I await with bated breath....

By the way, EJ,  the school is the Roman Catholic primary just down the road from your old alma mater!

Hello and welcome  :buttrf:

Just as a thought, what about making something like wax melts/candles or something along those lines, that wouldn't need an SA but apply similar principles for your business model? :buttrf:

Maybe you could do some healthy food. You can make low fat/veg based dips like from each - tomatoes, avocadoes and mangoes. and can use carrots, cukes , pepper etc instead of doritos. You can also sell them at the end of the day. Just a thought.    :buttrf:

hello and welcome from me. I don't know how you can get around having a safety assessment. Even giving free samples to 3rd parties can be problem.

Perhaps if the kids made simple M&P soaps and parents were all given monopoly money and "simulated shopping", then returned the soap or other items at the end. Kids can compete for how much monopoly money they made and no soaps are actually traded. That could also work for other items.

Hi Dahlia

Hello and welcome.

Hello and welcome...