A recent study has revealed a staggering number of children are living in hygiene poverty, with over one million children unable to access essential products such as shower gel, deodorant and toothpaste.
The report by charities In Kind Direct and Children North East suggests that 10% of children, or 845,000 young people in the UK, have not attended school due to hygiene-related reasons.
Amongst the young people living in hygiene poverty, 26% reported feeling less confident and 17% confirmed they feel embarrassed or ashamed due to their inability to clean themselves, resulting in a fear of social interaction and poor mental health.
Michael Gidney, CEO of charity In Kind Direct said: ‘Children are sharing toothbrushes, worrying about standing out at school for the wrong reasons and families are having to choose between eating and keeping clean – impossible choices no one should have to face.’
To combat the effects of hygiene poverty, the report recommended that the Government revokes the two-child limit and household benefit cap to increase the income of families in need.
The charities also urged local authorities to ensure sustainable initiatives to combat child poverty are established and regularly supervised to support those at risk in the community.
