UEA students create kits to tackle hygiene poverty in Norwich
They're being donated to local charities
A group of students at Norfolk's University of East Anglia (UEA) are working to try and address hygiene poverty in Norwich, by creating and distributing hygiene kits to local homeless charities.
Created as part of the Enactus UEA society, which helps student teams start social enterprise projects, Soapful Hands creates hygiene kits with a variation of items including shower gel, foaming cleaner, body scrub, body spray, a toothbrush and toothpaste, a comb, a brush, and handmade soaps.
They're being donated to homeless housing trusts including YMCA Norfolk, St Martins Housing Trust and other safe spaces like the Mitre Café on Earlham Road.
1\7 kits have been distributed by the project so far, with more than 30 additional kits packed and ready for distribution.
Katherine O'Connor, third-year Psychology student and President of Enactus UEA, said: “Our team has worked incredibly hard this year to provide support for the residents of our partner charities.
"We want to improve the accessibility of hygiene products in a way that can be fun and enjoyable for those who give up their time and money to support others in need.”
"Very well received"
Jan Sheldon, Chief Executive of St Martins, said: “The high-quality hygiene kits we received from Soapful Hands and distributed to people living in our hostels were very well received, which is important to us when we distribute donations as it shows the people we support that they are valued.
"So many people are feeling the pinch in the current economic climate, so donations of hygiene supplies make a huge difference to the people we support.
“Working with Soapful Hands has been fantastic because they have engaged with us so well to find out what is useful to us. They have visited our services and have plans to run a soap-making workshop with us, so the people we support can get involved.”
" What began as a humble idea has blossomed into a remarkable innovation"
Conrad, second-year Business Management student and Vice President of Enactus UEA, said: “Six months ago, our team launched Soapful Hands.
"What began as a humble idea has blossomed into a remarkable innovation, garnering substantial attention and earning the recognition it rightfully deserves...
“I am incredibly proud of our achievements this year and I can't wait to see the long-lasting impact this project will have. This starts with the projection to provide our beneficiaries with an estimated 500 hygiene kits by 2025.”