Coulsdon sits in the London Borough of Croydon and is often considered to be an affluent area. However, there are many families in the town that are struggling financially and this is where Rose and the team at The Hygiene Bank (THB) Coulsdon are a lifeline. One of their Community Partners is Tollers Community Centre, which support people such as Mark*, a single father with a daughter and two sons.
April is Stress Awareness Month, and this year the theme is ‘Be the change’. We’re shining a spotlight on THB Coulsdon and Tollers Community Centre, both of whom are doing exactly that.
Mark has found himself being dealt a tough hand in life, but he is determined to do the best he can for his children. His youngest child is not yet at school, and she doesn’t yet qualify for enough free hours of childcare for him to secure stable employment. This means he relies on support from Tollers and THB Coulsdon to make ends meet. His older children have previously been bullied at school, as they have poor hygiene, and so bodywash, laundry tablets and deodorant are hygiene essentials that Mark is incredibly grateful for, and previously considered luxuries.
Tollers is run by the local residents’ association, who advocate for local people – their open-door policy means those who are most in need get the support they need, confidentially and in a way they can take ownership of.
“The cost-of-living crisis has hit our estate hard and The Hygiene Bank has been a godsend to residents” Rachel, Tollers Community Centre
The relationship between Tollers and THB Coulsdon is having a positive impact not just on Mark and his family, but on a wide range of local people – whether it is parents needing laundry tablets, teenagers who don’t have deodorant or period products, or elderly residents lacking soap and shampoo. Tollers always talk to their residents, so they can explain what they need, therefore having agency and input into the products they receive. Along with hygiene essentials, the team at Tollers also try to include a luxury product, such as a bath bomb, as this helps to foster a sense of self-worth.
“My team is united by our shared sense of purpose, and the service has been described as invaluable, with a direct and lasting positive impact on people’s lives” Rose, THB Coulsdon
Rose and the team at Coulsdon are valued by everyone they support, as they are easing financial burdens, increasing feelings of self-worth and reducing stress levels for so many people. Stress comes in many forms, and can lead to significant mental health issues. Our research uncovers worrying statistics – 68% of adults living in hygiene poverty have had their mental health negatively impacted^.
Hygiene poverty is having long-lasting implications in so many areas of life – school attendance, people avoiding going to work or job interviews and social interactions being significantly reduced. Feelings of shame and embarrassment are ones that we hear about, and 50% of those people who have been pulled into hygiene poverty report having anxiety or depression. Our network of local projects, run by incredible volunteers, are working hard to change this. They collect, sort and distribute basic hygiene products to community partners, who support children, families and individuals in need.
Could you help your local THB project to change lives? Please donate here: https://thehygienebank.com/donate/
*Story is based on real case studies and names have been changed to preserve privacy
^The Hygiene Bank Research Report, 2024
