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LET'S FIGHT HYGIENE POVERTY 2024

Our Christmas Campaign

‘At Christmas, peace of mind is the least a child deserves.’

This Christmas, The Multibank is joining forces with the entertainment industry & the sports community – broadcasters, leagues, clubs, talent, & fans. Together we are responding to the rising issue of hygiene poverty amongst young people up-and-down the United Kingdom. We strive to guarantee that they can approach 2025 equipped with the tools, assurance, & confidence they need to maximise their talents & potential at school.

Mutibanks are being started all over the UK, but the idea started in Fife. A study was conducted by Social Value Lab, to measure the impact achieved.

What is Hygiene Poverty?

Hygiene Poverty is defined as the individual or their household having gone without basic toiletries or hygiene items because they cannot afford to buy them.

From April-22 -January’ 24, energy and food prices rose 75% and 30% respectively.

For 46% of households in the United Kingdom, washing detergent is considered a luxury item on the shopping list, rising from £4.50 to £6.37 (41.6%) in just 3-years.

42% of households are without deodorant. 400,000 are without soap or toothpaste.

What is the Impact of Hygiene Poverty?

Social Withdrawal

One million students attending school arrive with dirty uniforms, driving divide in the classroom and stunting ability to engage socially, increasing isolation, and affecting mental health. In just 5-years, the prevalence of hardship-related mental health problems in young people has increased by 50%.

Financial pressure on teachers to respond

School staff in the UK have spent £40 million of their own money to support pupils experiencing hygiene poverty in the last year, purchasing soap, toiletries, and washing detergent, to counter bullying in their classrooms.

Rising school absence

Hygiene poverty is one of the primary drivers of school absence at primary and secondary level. 1-in-3 students on Free School Meals at Primary & Secondary level, are persistently absent from school during the Autumn & Winter terms. 60,000 school days are lost each year due to child tooth decay, a subsection of hygiene poverty.

Stretched NHS resource

It is estimated that £40.7 million of NHS resources are allocated to child tooth decay, with 119 extraction procedures taking place every day in England. Tooth decay is the most common reason for hospital admissions for children aged between 5 and 9-years-old. In Yorkshire alone, this equates to 1-in-5 primary aged children.

A Multibank referral partner

"You can't budget when there is not a budget to budget. We can't make money appear that isn't there."

Teacher in Tees Valley

"If a child is hungry & doesn't have the essentials they need, it doesn’t matter whether you’re a bloody good teacher" -

Teacher in Greater Manchester

“Multibank support has enabled families to feel more ‘normal’. The Multibank is a lifeline that allows families to feel valued & supported, providing items that they otherwise would not have access to.”

Our Christmas Campaign

The Multibank Response

December will see a programme of entertainment and sports activation commence, designed to drive donation of essential hygiene products. We endeavour to get soap, shampoo, shower gel, deodorant, toothpaste, and toothbrushes into the hands of those most in need, alleviating the strain off of teachers and key workers, and enabling every young person to maximise their potential, without fear or judgement.

Partnered sports clubs across football and rugby are facilitating match day fan donation drives at their home stadium within the month of December, encouraging all match day fans to gift these essential hygiene products on entry to the ground, in support of their local Multibank and their club community network. Gifted products will support the build of essential hygiene packs, to be distributed via The Multibanks’ place-based network of charities, social workers, health professionals, and teachers, servicing surrounding boroughs and communities. Items will be gifted at manned Multibank donation banks positioned around the stadium before kick-off.