Oxfordshire hygiene bank helping to support those in hygiene poverty
A new report from the Hygiene Bank has found hygiene poverty is affecting an extra million people in the UK compared to 2022.
A new report into hygiene poverty has found an estimated 4.2 million adults in the UK (8% of the population), up from 3.1 million in 2022, are struggling to purchase items to stay clean.
It's highlighting the escalating severity of this silent crisis.
Bicester Hygiene bank is a local arm of the national charity Hygiene Bank that conducted the research. They have over 200 projects across the UK
Hygiene poverty limits the ability of individuals to participate in society, with 92% reporting to have decreased their social interaction with friends and family in different ways and 13% saying they have avoided going to work.
Bicester hygiene bank is on a mission to raise awareness and change the lives of those suffering from hygiene poverty.
They collect donated hygiene projects, either personal or domestic and then distribute them to community partners.
These partners are organisations that work with people living in deprivation, for instance schools, food banks, baby banks and foster care charities.
With a significant economic downturn people are struggling financially, but these issues have significantly increased in the last few years.
Anna Willmore who is the co-ordinator of Bicester hygiene bank said: "If you can't afford basic shower gel, shampoo and deodorant you might not want to go to school or work because you don't look or feel very clean.
"There's lots of social stigma around hygiene issues, it can affect people both physically, mentally and socially.
"That's why at the hygiene bank we strive to to alleviate that.
"If you don't live in hygiene poverty or know anyone that does, it may be difficult for you to understand that if you don't have enough food then you don't have enough money to buy hygiene products."