How hygiene banks are fighting hygiene poverty

19 Apr 2021 --- Amid COVID-19, grassroots movements are working hard to solve and end hygiene poverty by providing personal care items to people in need. Senior beauty and personal care journalist, Natasha Spencer-Jolliffe, spoke with Edgar Penollar, CEO of The Hygiene Bank to explore what this entails and why it is so critical to so many.

“Before COVID-19, many were struggling to make ends meet,” highlights Edgar Penollar, CEO of The Hygiene Bank, a grassroots, community initiative that provides hygiene and personal care products to people throughout the UK. 

Whether it be the working poor, zero contract workers, BAME households, single parents, or those living with disabilities, millions lacked the means to afford the basics. And that was before the world was thrown into the crisis caused by the global pandemic. Before COVID-19, 22% of the UK population were already living in poverty. As of January 2021, with almost 5 million people on furlough and 6 million on Universal Credit, it is clear that “recovery will take time”, shared Penollar. 

What is hygiene poverty?

Click to EnlargeHygiene poverty is not being able to access the hygiene and personal care items we need for us to be clean, safe and well. It is “intolerable and unjust”, with those who do not have the means to access hygiene products held back from fully participating and engaging in societal contributions. 

Hygiene poverty subsequently led to feelings of demoralization, affecting a person’s self-esteem and self-confidence, along with creating feelings of isolation, exclusion, shame,  humiliation, and potentially leading to poor mental health. Ultimately, it can narrow opportunities for education, training or employment.  

Highlighting how poverty is everyone’s business, The Hygiene Bank emphasizes how one event can push a family into poverty. 

Left without essential toiletries

Looking at populations experiencing extreme material deprivation, the statistics are harrowing and make for difficult reading: 

●    43% of those living in destitution most commonly lacked basic toiletries

●    Additionally, 65% of those in deep poverty prior to the crisis have reduced hours, been furloughed or became unemployed in 2020

The pandemic has plunged the most vulnerable into an even more desperate and precarious crisis— leaving them without the basic daily hygiene essentials 

“In 2020, we delivered seven times the year prior, nearly doubling the community partners we serve,” shares Penollar. “Yet we only scratched the surface in terms of need.”

Throughout the year, The Hygiene Bank had a waiting list for both new community partners and schools in need of hygiene products. “Sadly, it is not surprising the demand for our services grew significantly given 14.5 million people were already living in poverty pre-pandemic,” said Penollar.

The critical role of hygiene banks

In the first few months of 2020, the grassroots movements achieved incredible milestones, 

The Hygiene Bank’s Impact Report 2019 was published in September 2020 and includes information on:

●    Creating partnerships with brands like Boots and Soap & Glory 

●    Securing funding for a second Partnership Manager to  develop local projects, brand partnerships and work with schools

●    New collaborative relationships with front-line agencies working to help people stay afloat 

●    The progression of delivery mechanisms to enable the grassroots movement to cope with the impact of COVID-19 

These developments all took place as the initiative experienced an increase in demand as the pandemic spread, and as uncertainty dominated due to the suspension of the majority of The Hygiene Bank’s drop-off points. Over £3.5 million worth of products were distributed across the UK in 2020 to nearly 900 organizations such as schools, churches and refugees, among others, who offer these products as a supplement to their services. The donations given range from basic essentials like soap, shampoo, and laundry powder to luxury items like makeup, bubble bath and face lotion. 

Sharing the incredible work of the public, brands and funding to support the roll-out of hygiene and personal care products, Penollar states: “This would not have been possible without the public purchasing products online via our wish lists, brands stepping up and donating tons of products, and financial support from individuals and funders.” 

The Hygiene Bank’s team of volunteers and head office then made sure these hygiene products were delivered to support individuals and families pulled into poverty.   

End hygiene poverty

Click to EnlargeA true testament to the community initiative’s message that “hygiene poverty is a problem we can solve together”, The Hygiene Bank’s core ambition is that one day everyone living in the UK will have access to essential hygiene products and “we will no longer need to exist”, Penollar shares. 

“We continue to believe the UK should be a society in which no one should suffer the injustice of poverty,” she said. 

The Hygiene Bank’s dedication to reducing hygiene poverty is in alignment with the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goal 1 to end poverty in all forms everywhere. Poverty is not inevitable.

Highlighting the devastating choice that people are being forced to make, Penollar emphasizes: “Sadly, as the economic impact of the pandemic continues to be felt, we continue to see the demand for our services increase from our community partners, as individuals and families are forced to make tough decisions between paying for food, utilities or keeping clean.”

“Difficult though this period is, we are encouraged by what has been achieved together thus far,” adds Penollar. 

“We know our volunteers, staff, supporters, and brand partners will continue to show compassion towards others whilst also seeking to shape a more just society, in which everyone can afford to stay healthy, safe and clean,” Penollar highlights. 

By Natasha Spencer-Jolliffe, BPC Insights Senior Journalist