"It's depressing" - Hygiene poverty in East Yorkshire
An estimated three million people in the UK are living in hygiene poverty.
The head of an East Yorkshire hygiene bank has revealed the impact of hygiene poverty, as many struggle to afford to wash their clothes.
Of those suffering from hygiene poverty in Yorkshire, 28% have had to forego clean clothes so they can afford food.
Jackie Heffer, who runs the Hygiene Bank in Hull and East Riding, said: "You've got people crying because they can't send their children to school because they can't wash their hair and the children are too embarrassed or they can't brush their teeth.
"Since January we've had over 10,000 items going out. Some people can't afford nappies so they're using tea towels and towels and washing them."
According to data from UK charity Hygiene Bank and cleaning product company smol, 2.6 million people in Britain have struggled to afford to wash their clothes - a third of whom have said they have avoided leaving the house due to feeling self-conscious.
Jackie said: "I've actually been there, so I do know what it's like. It's quite depressing, you think it's never going to end and your self-esteem gets lower and lower."
"I'm trying to make it so they don't have to make that choice between buying hygiene products and food, so they can come to one of our community partners and get what they need, but the funding is running out so I'm trying to get as much help as I can."