Warwickshire charity seeing rise in hygiene poverty
The Hygiene Bank says the rising cost of living is causing a rise in hygiene poverty
More people across Coventry and Warwickshire are unable to afford to take a showers or even buy soap, according to a local charity.
A new report from The Hygiene Bank has found that hygiene poverty is affecting an estimated 4.2 million adults in the UK (8% of the population), up from 3.1 million in 2022.
It means not being able to afford basic hygiene and personal items, like deodorant, shampoo, or cleaning supplies.
The study uncovers the impacts of hygiene poverty on individuals and families across the nation, exposing the effects hygiene poverty has on mental and physical health and how it acts as a barrier to education and work.
Around 92% of those surveyed reported to have decreased their social interaction with friends and family in different ways, and 13% saying they have avoided going to work.
The groups found to be most affected are: 21% of people with a serious disability or long-term health condition, 18% of those from lower-income households, 12% of those from an ethnic minority background, and 11% of adults who have children living with them.
Four in five (80%) said that it has had a negative impact on their ability to afford basic toiletries and those who have experienced hygiene poverty in the past 12 months are more likely to have gone without razors (50%), laundry detergent and cleaning products (46%) and deodorant (42%) because they couldn’t afford it.
Among those being affected by hygiene poverty, they admit it has affected their mental health (68%), with 50% feeling depressed or embarrassed because they are being pulled into hygiene poverty.
Kathryn Toogood is from the Hygiene Bank Leamington Spa, which provides support.
She said: “It is anybody who is struggling to afford basic hygiene products, anything from personal hygiene to household cleaning items. With the cost-of-living crisis, its affecting more people than ever before.
“Your mental health can really take a turn for the worse if you don’t feel clean. You’re reluctant to see friends, so you’re socialising less. You avoid going to work or using public transport. And the wider impact of that is long-term health loss – both physical and mental health.”
In response to these alarming findings, the charity Hygiene Bank, is calling on policymakers, communities and charities to join the movement to end hygiene poverty.