"People's inability to afford essential hygiene products is leaving many too ashamed to go to work, a charity says.
A report suggests 3.2 million UK adults are affected by so-called hygiene poverty - with 12% saying they have avoided facing colleagues as a result.
Their struggle to buy basic items such as soap and deodorant is having a devastating effect on their daily lives, it says.
Hygiene Bank chief executive Ruth Brock said it was a "hidden crisis".
"It's much more widespread than we feared, it's increasing, and it's disproportionately impacting the most vulnerable," she said.
Hygiene Bank works to supply food banks, homeless shelters, schools, and other organisations with items including toothpaste, shampoo, soap, deodorant, nappies, period products and laundry detergent.
The charity began in 2018 after founder Lizzy Hall saw the Ken Loach-directed film I, Daniel Blake, which features a scene where a struggling single mother is caught shoplifting sanitary products.
"I think it just doesn't occur to people in the same way that fuel and food poverty do," said Ms Brock.
"But the truth is by the time you're not switching on your heating or you're going to a food bank for food essentials, you've stopped buying essential hygiene products weeks before."
Syl said
Oct 30 11:28 AM, 2022
It seems to be a taboo subject this, people dont want to acknowledge the fact that some females just can't afford sanitary items every month.
The first I knew about it, was a year or so ago, I saw a container in my local bank, it was for people to donate sanitary pads and tampons.
I have to say it brought home to me just how, in a supposed wealthy country, so many are struggling to cope with even necessary basics.
When I was a kid, I know a close member of my family had to use, then rewash old material to act as a sanitary pad...her husband controlled the finances, and he was too mean to give her money to buy what she needed.
Seems 'liberation' for women has taken a backwards turn again.
Digger said
Nov 1 1:57 PM, 2022
Syl wrote:
It seems to be a taboo subject this, people dont want to acknowledge the fact that some females just can't afford sanitary items every month.
The first I knew about it, was a year or so ago, I saw a container in my local bank, it was for people to donate sanitary pads and tampons. I have to say it brought home to me just how, in a supposed wealthy country, so many are struggling to cope with even necessary basics.
When I was a kid, I know a close member of my family had to use, then rewash old material to act as a sanitary pad...her husband controlled the finances, and he was too mean to give her money to buy what she needed.
Seems 'liberation' for women has taken a backwards turn again.
They should be free for those who cannot afford them.
Digger said
Nov 1 1:58 PM, 2022
Anonymous said
Nov 1 5:19 PM, 2022
Digger wrote:
Magica said
Nov 2 1:03 AM, 2022
Digger wrote:
Syl wrote:
It seems to be a taboo subject this, people dont want to acknowledge the fact that some females just can't afford sanitary items every month.
The first I knew about it, was a year or so ago, I saw a container in my local bank, it was for people to donate sanitary pads and tampons. I have to say it brought home to me just how, in a supposed wealthy country, so many are struggling to cope with even necessary basics.
When I was a kid, I know a close member of my family had to use, then rewash old material to act as a sanitary pad...her husband controlled the finances, and he was too mean to give her money to buy what she needed.
Seems 'liberation' for women has taken a backwards turn again.
They should be free for those who cannot afford them.
They should be free non stop. They're a necessity not a luxury.
Syl said
Nov 2 1:03 AM, 2022
Anonymous wrote:
Just to tell you and Syl ................
Phil. X
We wish you nothing but the best. X
Syl said
Nov 2 7:12 PM, 2022
Magica wrote:
Digger wrote:
Syl wrote:
It seems to be a taboo subject this, people dont want to acknowledge the fact that some females just can't afford sanitary items every month.
The first I knew about it, was a year or so ago, I saw a container in my local bank, it was for people to donate sanitary pads and tampons. I have to say it brought home to me just how, in a supposed wealthy country, so many are struggling to cope with even necessary basics.
When I was a kid, I know a close member of my family had to use, then rewash old material to act as a sanitary pad...her husband controlled the finances, and he was too mean to give her money to buy what she needed.
Seems 'liberation' for women has taken a backwards turn again.
They should be free for those who cannot afford them.
They should be free non stop. They're a necessity not a luxury.
I don't think they should be free for everyone, many things are a necessity in life, but they aren't free. I think there should be a scheme where low income households should get them free without relying on charity.
Oh she knows She takes his hand And prays the child will understand At the door they watch the men go by In the clothes that daddy wore Mother's pride Baby Boy His father's eyes He's a soldier waiting for war Time will come He'll hold a gun His father's son
And as he grows He hears the band Takes the step from boy to man And at the shore she waves her son goodbye Like the man she did before
Mother's pride Just a boy His country's eyes He's a soldier waving at the shore And in her heart the time has come To lose a son
And all the husbands, all the sons, all the lovers gone They make no difference No difference in the end Still hear the woman say your daddy died a hero In the name of God and man
Mother's pride Crazy boy His lifeless eyes He's a soldier now forevermore He'll hold a gun till kingdom come
Pause for thought.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-63403823
"People's inability to afford essential hygiene products is leaving many too ashamed to go to work, a charity says.
A report suggests 3.2 million UK adults are affected by so-called hygiene poverty - with 12% saying they have avoided facing colleagues as a result.
Their struggle to buy basic items such as soap and deodorant is having a devastating effect on their daily lives, it says.
Hygiene Bank chief executive Ruth Brock said it was a "hidden crisis".
"It's much more widespread than we feared, it's increasing, and it's disproportionately impacting the most vulnerable," she said.
Hygiene Bank works to supply food banks, homeless shelters, schools, and other organisations with items including toothpaste, shampoo, soap, deodorant, nappies, period products and laundry detergent.
The charity began in 2018 after founder Lizzy Hall saw the Ken Loach-directed film I, Daniel Blake, which features a scene where a struggling single mother is caught shoplifting sanitary products.
"I think it just doesn't occur to people in the same way that fuel and food poverty do," said Ms Brock.
"But the truth is by the time you're not switching on your heating or you're going to a food bank for food essentials, you've stopped buying essential hygiene products weeks before."
The first I knew about it, was a year or so ago, I saw a container in my local bank, it was for people to donate sanitary pads and tampons.
I have to say it brought home to me just how, in a supposed wealthy country, so many are struggling to cope with even necessary basics.
When I was a kid, I know a close member of my family had to use, then rewash old material to act as a sanitary pad...her husband controlled the finances, and he was too mean to give her money to buy what she needed.
Seems 'liberation' for women has taken a backwards turn again.
They should be free for those who cannot afford them.
They should be free non stop. They're a necessity not a luxury.
We wish you nothing but the best. X
I don't think they should be free for everyone, many things are a necessity in life, but they aren't free. I think there should be a scheme where low income households should get them free without relying on charity.
I am going to have to start eating.
Thank you both. XXX
All the best JD, I'm thinking of you.
I saw this and thought you would like it.
Hope you're good JD, miss you x
The future of Fireworks?
She takes his hand
And prays the child will understand
At the door they watch the men go by
In the clothes that daddy wore
Mother's pride
Baby Boy
His father's eyes
He's a soldier waiting for war
Time will come
He'll hold a gun
His father's son
He hears the band
Takes the step from boy to man
And at the shore she waves her son goodbye
Like the man she did before
Just a boy
His country's eyes
He's a soldier waving at the shore
And in her heart the time has come
To lose a son
They make no difference
No difference in the end
Still hear the woman say your daddy died a hero
In the name of God and man
Crazy boy
His lifeless eyes
He's a soldier now forevermore
He'll hold a gun till kingdom come
Thank you. X
Phil,
Have you contacted the Samaritans yet? We keep asking you and you keep avoiding an answer? You will be pointed towards the right places to get help.
So true
I just feel sorry for myself.
I have a good woman, but I abuse her and she doesn't deserve it.
I'm more inclined to feel sorry for her.