Commenting on her new role, Ruth said: “I’m thrilled to be joining The Hygiene Bank at this pivotal time in the organisation’s growth and I’m particularly pleased to have the chance, in these difficult times, to play a role in helping to combat the worst effects of the cost-of-living crisis. With my teaching, campaigning & charity experience I hope to build on The Hygiene Bank’s fantastic achievements to date. I’m ambitious to reach even more of those who need our work the most, mitigate the hidden & terrible effects of hygiene poverty and, ultimately, end it for good. I’m so excited to roll up my sleeves and get going – and I’m hugely looking forward to meeting the team, trustees and, critically, volunteers, charity partners and service users so that I can learn from their expertise and experiences.”
We are thrilled to announce the appointment of Ruth Brock as our new Chief Executive Officer.
With over 15 years of leadership experience in the charity sector, Ruth joins us from cultural education charity Coram Shakespeare Schools Foundation, where she worked to instil empathy, aspiration and self-esteem in young people.
We are excited to benefit from Ruth’s wealth of leadership experience as we prepare to publish the UK’s first national study into hygiene poverty ahead of hosting our third National Hygiene Week in October.
Ruth joins us from an eight-year tenure at Coram Shakespeare Schools Foundation, a cultural education charity, where she most recently served as Managing Director. Prior to this, Ruth spent over five years as the Artistic Director for East End Shed, an inclusive performing arts charity promoting social cohesion, literacy and skills for life.
Ruth’s appointment comes as we enter our fifth year of operations and during a period where demand for our service is rising exponentially, driven by the post-pandemic economy and ongoing cost of living crisis.
Tom Poynter, Chair of The Hygiene Bank’s Board of Trustees said:
“Firstly, our enormous gratitude to Edgar Penollar who took on the CEO role as the pandemic arrived in March 2020. Edgar has brought a huge sense of stability and robustness to the charity which has enabled us to deliver significant growth during that period as well as delivering to our service users and community partners in such a difficult period. I am thrilled to confirm that Edgar will continue to support the charity as Finance Executive.
The charity is now in the second stage of its journey and with that, we welcome Ruth to the organisation. The Hygiene Bank will switch gears in raising awareness of hygiene poverty through our own national research study and National Hygiene Week (3rd-9th October 2022), affect changes in policy and ultimately move us closer to realising our vision of giving everyone access to basic hygiene essentials.
With Ruth’s deep experience in policy change, fundraising and campaigning I know she will enable The Hygiene Bank to become a much larger movement that continues to help those in great need. She is driven, committed and highly motivated by the hidden crisis that is hygiene poverty and we look forward to Ruth leading the next era of our organisation.”