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.


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.