One million more people are experiencing hygiene poverty than last year
Research from charity In Kind Direct found nearly one in five UK adults are currently living without regular access to basic hygiene products like soap, shampoo and toothpaste.
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00:00The number of people in hygiene poverty is growing. Research from charity InKind Direct
00:08found nearly one in five UK adults are currently living without regular access to basic hygiene
00:12products like soap, shampoo and toothpaste. That's an increase of almost a million compared
00:17to last year's data. The number is growing and the impact is deepening. While a quarter
00:21of households with children were found to be living in hygiene poverty, around one in
00:25ten report their child being more anxious and being bullied at school. InKind Direct
00:30is looking to break the stigma around hygiene poverty. In their experience, it doesn't just
00:35impact one certain group. In fact, they found 45% of people unable to afford products are
00:40full-time workers. And the mental health effects of going without personal hygiene products
00:45mean those living in hygiene poverty are disproportionately impacted by daily tasks, like seeing friends
00:50or attending job interviews, making it progressively harder to get by. 20% are watering down on
00:55products to make them last longer, 11% are taking toilet rolls from public loos and 19%
01:00are brushing their teeth less than twice a day.