This week, The Hygiene Bank has proudly launched ‘National Hygiene Week’. With over 14 million[1] people experiencing hygiene poverty in the UK, this 5-day awareness campaign encourages conversation and education around this important issue.

Founder of The Hygiene Bank, Lizzy Hall, started the people-powered charity after watching the film ‘I Daniel Blake’, which showed hygiene and personal grooming products were not easily available through foodbanks. After discovering a similar situation at her local foodbank, she reached out to her friends for unwanted toiletry donations… and The Hygiene Bank was born.

Lizzy’s passion for fighting hygiene poverty saw her crowned the ‘Boots Wellness Warrior’ at the annual Women of the Year awards in 2019, and since February 2020, Boots UK has proudly partnered with The Hygiene Bank to help end hygiene poverty in the UK.

In-store donation points

Believing that everyone should have access to basic hygiene products, Boots UK’s pioneering partnership with the charity has gone from strength to strength. Initially piloting collection bins in 25 Boots stores, customers and colleagues can now donate their new and unused toiletries and personal care items in 245 stores across the country.

Battling hygiene poverty during a pandemic

During these unprecedented times, some of the most vulnerable people in our communities are now in need of hygiene essentials more than ever before.

With the support of Fareshare, Boots UK and The Hygiene Bank have donated over 500,000 toiletries to NHS workers and vulnerable people living in poverty across the UK. Thousands of bathroom essentials, such as hand cream, toothpaste and shower gel, are now available to help people get better access to hygiene essentials during this difficult time.

Educating a new generation

During National Hygiene Week (14-20 September), Boots has been working alongside The Hygiene Bank to help young people get to grips with the issue of hygiene poverty. To help them understand how they can support vulnerable people in their communities, we have created a range of accessible educational resources for both primary and secondary school pupils – click here to download.

[1] The Social Metrics Commission (SMC) Report (2019)