With 97 per cent of teachers saying there are children in their care who need more basic hygiene products, a powerful campaign is helping families in need of essential items
As millions of children get ready for a new school year, it’s only natural that parents want to give them the best possible start.
But the cost of living crisis is putting the squeeze on hard-pressed families who have to go without basics such as shampoo, toothpaste and shower gel because the weekly budget is just too stretched to afford them. As one parent explained, “These are items I wouldn’t prioritise usually – I have to buy food first.”
A new survey* of teachers reveals that the rising cost of living means more UK children will be going back to school without access to basic hygiene essentials. This can leave them feeling embarrassed, unwilling to participate fully in the classroom or PE lessons, and more likely to avoid socialising with other kids.
Easy access to basic toiletries such as soap, deodorant and period products means children are more likely to come into school feeling confident and ready to get stuck into lessons. That’s why Boots has donated an additional 50,000 products to charity The Hygiene Bank to support children going back to school.
You can help too. Boots has set up convenient drop off points in more than 500 of its stores where anyone can donate any full unopened products, with period products, deodorant and shower gel the most in-demand items for school-aged children. For every 1kg donated, Boots will match it with another full-size product. Find out more on boots.com.
*Survey by One Poll of 500 UK primary and secondary teachers July 26-August 1, 2022. The Hygiene Bank is a registered charity in England and Wales number: 1181267 and Scotland: SC049895
That’s where a joint initiative by Boots and charity The Hygiene Bank can make all the difference – by getting much-needed toiletries to the people who need them most.
Having access to hygiene products can make all the difference in supporting a child to feel happy and confident; a child who goes to school and thrives in education.
Nathan Kirk, a sports and PE specialist at several primary schools in Nottingham, says, “Being clean can have a real impact on children’s behaviour. As a teacher you see it most in kids having pride in themselves. When they feel clean, they feel confident – they’re more likely to get involved in lessons, answering questions, joining in with activities like PE and interacting with their friendship groups. School is the foundation for adulthood – it’s so important for every child to enjoy it and feel included.”
The Hygiene Bank works with charities and schools all over the UK, distributing donated products in huge numbers. Among them is Hugh Baird College in Liverpool, where one student said, “The Hygiene Bank helps me to be able to come to college – and go out with my friends on weekends – feeling clean.”
The impact of having easy access to simple toiletries can be huge. Nine in 10 teachers reported that children with these essentials are more likely to come into school feeling confident and ready to get stuck into lessons. They also say that after supplying them with such products, pupils seem happier, interact with other pupils more and are more willing to learn.
This is why Boots and The Hygiene Bank have joined forces. Boots will donate an additional 50,000 products this September, including items that children in particular really need, such as toothbrushes, toothpaste, deodorant, shower gel and period products. These will be distributed through The Hygiene Bank’s network to schools and local community projects to support children and families who are experiencing hygiene poverty on a daily basis.
Since 2020, Boots, with the support of its customers, has donated over a million products to people living in hygiene poverty. And The Hygiene Bank has supported over 560 schools across the UK to date, delivering essential toiletries to directly support families in need. The charity often works closely with family liaison officers, who will discreetly distribute products to the children and their families. Items such as period products and deodorants can also be placed in toilets for anyone to use.
But more are needed – and you can help. You can donate any unopened, unused and in-date toiletries from any brand via one of 500 Hygiene Bank donation points in Boots stores across the UK. Any of the following will be gratefully accepted: shampoo, conditioner, body wash, period products, cleanser, moisturiser, deodorant, toothpaste, toothbrushes, nappies, baby wipes and washing powder. Alternatively, you can make a donation direct to The Hygiene Bank by buying an e-Voucher on boots.com.
Donate products to The Hygiene Bank at selected Boots stores or find out more at boots.com
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