As part of National Hygiene Week (5th – 11th July) Coopers Fire staff held a charity dress down day and raised £90 for The Hygiene Bank.
Established in 2018, The Hygiene Bank is a grassroots, people-powered charity and social movement, grounded in community. Hygiene poverty is not being able to afford many of the everyday hygiene and personal care essentials that many of us take for granted. The reality of low income is that it restricts people’s options, leaving people caught between being able to heat their homes, pay the rent, eat or stay clean.
Over 14 million people in the UK live in poverty – that is one fifth of our population (source: Social Metrics Commission). Two thirds of this number are working people. Hygiene poverty can be shaming, humiliating, and excluding and can result in social isolation. It has been found that long before people go to a foodbank they stop buying toiletries (source: The Trussel Trust).
The Hygiene Bank, believe that feeling clean should not be a luxury or a privilege for anyone in our society. Their network of projects exists with the aim of reducing hygiene poverty and giving people access to the basics they need but might otherwise go without.
As well as the charity dress down day for The Hygiene Bank, staff at Ignis House held a collection of hygiene items to donate to Waterlooville food bank. Waterlooville Food Bank work in our local area, alongside recognised organisations such as the Citizens Advice Bureau, Children Services, Schools, Housing Association and more to supply items to those in need in the local area.
We donated 280 items – Thank you everyone who contributed.
