Help Needed: Donations Urgently Required to Tackle Hygiene Poverty
Charitable individuals in the UK are being urged to lend a helping hand by donating basic hygiene products such as soap, shampoo, and deodorant. These items are essential for the wellbeing of those in need, yet there is a significant shortfall in the supplies provided to charitable organizations.
A recent survey conducted among 2,000 adults highlighted that only five percent of respondents have contributed to charitable causes that support individuals, families, and children grappling with hygiene poverty. This condition arises from financial difficulties that prevent them from affording essential personal care items.
Surprisingly, a mere 22 percent of those surveyed were aware of the pressing need for hygiene product donations within the charitable sector. Rising living costs have exacerbated the situation, impacting household budgets.
Notable personal care brands like Radox, Persil, Bodyform, Andrex, and Sensodyne have teamed up with In Kind Direct, a charity organization, to launch an online and in-store donation campaign. This initiative will run across 700 participating Tesco stores nationwide. The campaign aims to distribute over one million personal care products from well-known brands to those who are most in need.
Rosanne Gray, CEO at In Kind Direct, expressed, “This survey highlights the unawareness among many UK citizens about the struggle faced by people in their own communities who can’t afford basic products for personal hygiene. We’re committed to supporting families in such situations and providing them with essential items they require.”
The research revealed that 36 percent of individuals are driven by empathy, 21 percent by personal connections, and 20 percent by a desire to make a positive impact when donating to charitable causes. Remarkably, 41 percent discover these organizations through word of mouth.
Among those who haven’t yet contributed to hygiene poverty causes, 26 percent prioritize other types of donations, while 17 percent lack awareness about the issue itself.
Despite the fact that 88 percent acknowledge the importance of hygiene items for overall wellbeing, 19 percent mistakenly believe that only a few people struggle to afford items like soap, shampoo, and washing-up liquid. In reality, nearly nine million individuals experience hygiene poverty, a number much higher than the public’s perception, which is around 300,000.
In a surprising finding, 63 percent of respondents felt that there is insufficient awareness about hygiene poverty within their communities. Additionally, 87 percent were unaware of any charitable organization addressing this issue. Barriers to raising awareness included lack of information (22 percent), media coverage (19 percent), and limited knowledge (19 percent).
A majority of participants, 56 percent, expressed willingness to purchase extra items if they were to be donated to a hygiene poverty charity. In a partnership with Tesco, from August 23 to October 3, shoppers who buy two selected personal care products will have one of those items donated to In Kind Direct. The charity will then distribute the donations among its network of over 6,000 charitable organizations.
The effort to bridge the gap in hygiene poverty necessitates collaboration and awareness. By uniting brands, charities, and concerned citizens, progress can be made toward enhancing the living standards of those facing this challenge.