UP CLOSE WITH: The charity delivering hygiene basics to those in need

Imagine having to use washing up liquid for the dishes, your clothes and your body. Or having to share your toothbrush with your family because you can't afford one each.

This is the reality for many families who are hit by hygiene poverty, meaning they simply don't have enough money to buy the shampoo, shaving foam, body wash, or even sanitary products that most of us take for granted.

The Hygiene Bank was established two years ago to tackle this aspect of a widespread poverty that has seen food parcels rocket to 1.2 million from April to September this year according to the Trussell Trust.

Julia Westgarth is the volunteer project coordinator for the local Hygiene Bank, covering Twickenham, East Twickenham and St Margarets, up to Richmond Bridge.

She says: "It's the toiletries equivalent of a food bank.

"We live in one of the most affluent boroughs. You'd think surely there aren't families who have to choose between paying their gas bills or washing their children's clothes, or sharing a toothbrush?

"Or women using loo paper or rolled up socks as sanitary products?

"But there are."

The Hygiene Bank was set up by Lizzy Hall after she watched an emotionally devastating scene in the Ken Loach film I, Daniel Blake, in which a young single mother is caught shoplifting and the store manager finds sanitary pads, deodorant and a razor in her bag.

The charity asks people to donate new toiletry products at drop off points, including 245 Boots stores nationally.

Volunteers collect donations and package them according to the needs of the bank's charity partners, who distribute the packages to the families and individuals they work with.

Julia, who has been volunteering for a year, says: "I saw a collection point when I was out walking my dog. I picked up a leaflet and phoned the coordinator in Hampton. We met for a coffee and the next thing I knew I was on a Zoom induction.

"For the first few months it was reasonably quiet and then the pandemic hit…"

Before Covid-19, Julia would do two to three drop-offs a month. This leapt to ten requests from partners a month the minute the pandemic hit.

"A lot of schools were saying we have got vulnerable families, we are setting up food deliveries to them, can you supplement them with toiletries?

"One school alone was supporting 50 families in need.

"This is why I say that hygiene poverty is so much closer than you think."

Julia praises the fantastic generosity of people in the borough. "The need is much greater than you might imagine but we are lucky that people locally are so happy to give."

This year the charity has a Christmas initiative called #itsinthebag. They are asking people to donate £15 that will buy a tote bag filled with essential hygiene products and a luxury item for a man, woman or child.

The bags will be given to people through the Hygiene Bank's charity partners, for example the independent living charity, RUILS, or the Richmond Christmas Day Dinner.

Julia's passion for her voluntary role, which she fulfils alongside a full-time job, is obviously catching: her youngest son, Dominic, has just finished his induction to become a volunteer.

You can donate to #itsinthebag or text IITB to 70085 (texts cost £15 plus one standard network rate message).

Or find your nearest collection point at the Hygiene Bank's website.