By Emily Boon
Meet the charities making hygiene poverty history in the UK
In 2018, Sali Hughes and Jo Jones created the charity and social movement Beauty Banks, similar to regular food banks, only they provide personal and hygiene items to those in need across the UK.
The ethos of their movement is that being clean is a basic human right, and their end goal is to make hygiene poverty history in the UK.
Image courtesy Beauty Banks
The co-founders believe that being clean is “fundamental to our physical, mental and emotional health and wellbeing”. Therefore, they provide “a hand-up, not a hand-out” for those in need.
Beauty Banks works with communities in need by collecting unused toiletries and distributing them to registered charities throughout the UK including foodbanks, homeless shelters and schools.
They collect these products several ways, including: a partnership with Superdrug having Beauty Banks drop-off points in store, or people can volunteer to become private or public Beauty Bankers.
They are simultaneously lobbying the UK government for more support to eradicate hygiene poverty. The top items in need include sanitary pads, men’s grooming products and baby products e.g. nappies.
Bloody Good Period
Another UK charity that specialises in period poverty and providing sanitary products is Bloody Good Period. They provide period supplies for asylum seekers, refugees and those who can’t afford them.
“The system is so rigged that people who menstruate are at a disadvantage. We’re on a mission to change that,” said Bloody Good Period’s founder, Gabby Edlin. Products are distributed to different charities such as the NNLS refugee drop-in, which hands them out to women in need.
As well as providing physical products to women, Bloody Good Period also provides a Bloody Good Education programme, to end period shame and educate about menstruation.
Freda also provides “award-winning and natural organic period products” on subscription, as well as donating to women in need. “For every box you buy, a girl in need will also be provided period products,” their website says.
If you feel you could benefit from this, wish to donate to donate or get involved, you can find more about both charities here: We are a people-powered grassroots movement | Beauty Banks ; https://www.bloodygoodperiod.com/. Or visit Freda at myfreda.com.
Leave a Reply