Hygiene poverty

A new report has found rising numbers of people in vulnerable situations across the UK are falling into ‘hygiene poverty’ as their inability to pay for basic products is increasing. The ‘Living Standards, Poverty and Inequality in the UK’ report compiled by the Institute of Fiscal Studies (IFS), highlights the widespread nature of current levels of poverty that adversely affects nearly one in four UK children, including 10,000 that leave care annually as well as ‘working poor’ families, people with disabilities, pensioners.

National charity, ‘The Hygiene Bank’, is calling for this issue to take prominence in the fight against normalising poverty. Hygiene is about physical and mental well-being, self-confidence and dignity. Hygiene poverty is shaming, isolating and excluding – the stigma attached affects all areas of life including work, school and relationships.

Aston spoke to Lizzy Hall, founder of The Hygiene Bank to discuss the mounting issue of hygiene poverty and to detail the incredible efforts that the growing network of hygiene banks carry out across the UK.