Swedish furniture giant Ikea has raised £10.4m for Unicef and Save the Children to support children’s education programmes worldwide.

The money was raised throughout Ikea’s UK stores during November and December last year. Its annual Soft Toy Campaign saw celebrities and customers participate in a variety of money-raising teddy bear themed adventures; and when customers purchased any soft toy, kids meal or children’s book, the Ikea Foundation donated 83p to Unicef and Save the Children.

As part of it, Ikea stores also had a ‘Give Twice’ incentive, where customers donated soft toys and children's books to Ikea, which were passed on to local children’s charities.

The funding from the Soft Toy campaign, managed by the Ikea Foundation has raised a total of £39.8m since it began in 2003, which has helped improve the lives of more than eight million children in 45 countries.

With this years donation, Unicef and Save the Children will implement 18 projects in 15 countries.