Hygiene Poverty in the UK: New campaign by The Hygiene Bank

What is hygiene poverty?

Transcript

00:00 Whilst hygiene poverty seems a struggle on the surface, it's prevalent that the continued

00:05 problem can manifest itself into a range of mental health issues. Social isolation was

00:10 identified as a significant impact of hygiene poverty. One respondent to the Hygiene Bank's

00:15 research report was noted as saying, "I used to go out with my friends, but I got anxiety

00:20 about the way I looked and smelt, so I became a recluse. I was so upset that my life had

00:25 changed."

00:26 Well, we have really found, haven't we, that as a society we are talking about food and

00:32 fuel poverty a lot, and we really understand how difficult it is for people to pay their

00:37 fuel bills and their rent and to put food on the table for their families. But the conversation

00:41 we're not having so much is around hygiene poverty. And hygiene poverty is because you

00:47 are prioritising your food and your fuel bills, you just can't afford the basic daily essentials

00:52 that we all need to go about our lives, feeling clean and dignified, having that self-esteem.

00:58 And so that means that we are hearing about people who are having to maybe share a toothbrush

01:02 in their families because they can't afford one each. Women who are having to substitute

01:07 using socks and toilet rolls instead of period products. Families who are having to scrape

01:12 out the contents of a nappy and reuse it because they can't afford all the ones that they need.

01:16 Well, the first step, you're right, really, really is raising awareness, so starting to

01:21 have conversations like this so that we are breaking down that stigma, that embarrassment,

01:25 that shame that we know people feel, and so that people understand that help is out there,

01:30 but people also understand that they can do something to help as well, because taking

01:34 action is incredibly important. I also absolutely agree with you that the only way that we're

01:40 going to solve this is by bringing people together.

01:44 The research also showed that one in eight people avoided a job interview as a result

01:48 of hygiene poverty, and consequently, this sees people trapped in the poverty cycle.