Last updated on July 21st, 2026 at 04:04 pm
A story of what hope in action looks like…
Imagine this – you have a 15-year-old daughter, Jen*, who rarely attends school and won’t engage with anyone who tries to help her. You would do anything to make your child’s life happier and ease the burden she feels. She is described as ‘dangerous’, due to the nature of her outbursts, and support workers have been told they are not to visit the house alone.
You’re losing the last glimmer of hope that anyone will be prepared to try and engage with your child and find out what the problem is. Then, the school tells you about The Hygiene Bank, and the flicker of hope stays alive.
What nobody had realised was that Jen wasn’t ‘dangerous’ or unwilling to co-operate: she was ashamed and embarrassed. Jen and her family were living in hygiene poverty, not being able to afford many of the everyday hygiene products that most of us take for granted. When she did force herself to go to school, she felt overwhelmed, judged and as if the world was staring at her. So, what looked like disengagement was actually Jen putting up barriers to protect herself.
For people who have been pulled into hygiene poverty, their life chances and opportunities can be blocked and confidence is stripped away. However, with the right support, that flicker of hope stays alight.
This is the story of how The Hygiene Bank (THB) Lutterworth provides the light at the end of the tunnel for families across Leicestershire and Rugby…
THB Lutterworth has been running for three years, and in that time, Fran and her team have supported over 3,500 individuals. That is the equivalent of approximately 116 classrooms of students, the Hammersmith Apollo filled or the population of a medium-sized village.
The team currently supports 20 Community Partners, but sadly they are finding that the need in the area is only increasing.
“It’s great to hear from our Community Partners about the positive impact the products we distribute have on the lives of people living in hygiene poverty” Fran, Project Co-ordinator at THB Lutterworth
The project is becoming a powerhouse of support and a beacon of hope in the local area, and Fran is supported by a committed team of volunteers, who are willing to share their skills in social media, fundraising, finances and product collection and distribution, in order to make a meaningful impact on the lives of people they are living side by side with.
Fran and her volunteers all have different reasons that they came to be involved with The Hygiene Bank, and they all have stories from Community Partners that stick with them and remind them that their time and efforts are making a difference. They are reducing feelings of shame, isolation, embarrassment and increasing opportunities to participate in society, pay bills and buy food and improve health.
Along with telling us about Jen, the team were keen to share Tilly’s* story. Tilly has recently come out of jail, been re-united with her child and is doing her best to make a successful fresh start. One of THB Lutterworth’s Community Partners started visiting her and delivering donations of hygiene products. Tilly has worked hard, probation services are pleased with her progress, and her son has been removed from the ‘child in need’ social care plan. Tilly shared “I could not have done this without help and The Hygiene Bank support plays a huge part in that.”
“Families that have the potential to fall apart, and certainly fall out of education, have been saved in no small part thanks to The Hygiene Bank products we receive.” Kate, Director of Safeguarding and Wellbeing at The Hinckley School
The compassion shown by THB Lutterworth is inspiring, and they encapsulate the values of The Hygiene Bank as a whole. Fran and her team are bringing together the communities and businesses of Leicestershire to ensure that everyone can take care of themselves and their families, and for that, they should be incredibly proud.
And the end of Jen’s story? Staff members from The Hinckley School, one of THB Lutterworth’s Community Partners, have successfully engaged with her, and started building a relationship. The sweetener? The high-quality, age-appropriate donations from The Hygiene Bank.
Whilst reading this story, have you been thinking “but this could be my child”? Hygiene poverty could be round the corner for anyone – 4.2 million adults in the UK are living this reality every day.
Could you help ease the burden for Tilly, Jen or the countless other families around the UK? Please donate here: https://thehygienebank.com/donate/
*all names have been changed to protect privacy
