Vote for The Hygiene Bank This September and Help End Hygiene Poverty

Posted on 08 Sep 2025 by Emily Atkinson-Dalton

At Discount Promo Codes, we believe in giving back. Every month, we run a charity poll where the public can choose one of three nominated charities to receive 20% of our profits. This September, one of the charities in the running is The Hygiene Bank, a remarkable organisation working tirelessly to end hygiene poverty in the UK. By casting your free vote, you can help them secure vital funds to continue their work and reach more people in need.

Who Are The Hygiene Bank?

The Hygiene Bank began with a simple but powerful idea. Founder Lizzy Hall MBE was inspired to act after watching the film I, Daniel Blake, where a struggling mother is caught shoplifting basic hygiene products. Shocked by how many families in the UK live without access to such essentials, Lizzy started a small collection with friends. What began as a WhatsApp group snowballed into a grassroots movement, and eventually a registered charity that now operates nationwide.

Since then, The Hygiene Bank has grown into a vast network of volunteers, local projects, and donation points. They collect unused and new hygiene products from the public and redistribute them to those who need them most through schools, community organisations, food banks, and refuges. Their model is simple, but its impact is profound—because access to something as basic as toothpaste or shampoo can change someone’s life.

Understanding Hygiene Poverty

Hygiene poverty is often described as the “hidden crisis” in the UK. It refers to being unable to afford the everyday personal care products that many of us take for granted—items like deodorant, soap, laundry detergent, nappies, and sanitary products.

The consequences of this lack reach far beyond physical discomfort. Research shows that millions of adults in the UK are affected by hygiene poverty, and the ripple effects are enormous. Parents are forced to choose between buying food or nappies, teenagers skip school because they don’t have sanitary products, and adults turn down job interviews because they cannot afford the basics needed to feel presentable.

Not only does hygiene poverty lead to social isolation and loss of confidence, but it also has significant impacts on health and wellbeing. Many people go without dental care or medical treatment because of the stigma they feel. It is a problem that erodes dignity, reinforces inequality, and traps people in cycles of hardship.

The Hygiene Bank’s Impact

Despite the scale of the issue, The Hygiene Bank has made extraordinary progress. Since launching, they have built a network that spans across the UK, with donation drop-off points in local communities and major retailers like Boots, who now host over 700 collection points nationwide. Thanks to partnerships with companies such as Unilever and Boots, the charity has been able to distribute millions of essential products, including a landmark achievement of more than 2,000 tonnes of hygiene basics delivered by 2022.

Their work goes beyond immediate relief. Campaigns like The Edible Soap, launched in March 2025, highlight the impossible choices many people face: eat or buy soap? This bold initiative captured public attention, raising awareness and funds, while pressing home the message that hygiene is not a luxury—it is a necessity.

By combining practical grassroots action with national advocacy, The Hygiene Bank is ensuring hygiene poverty receives the recognition it deserves in public conversations and policymaking.

Why They Need Your Support

For charities like The Hygiene Bank, every donation counts. Unlike larger organisations with extensive funding streams, they rely on community action and partnerships to keep going. Winning our charity poll this September would mean securing 20% of our profits for the month, money that can directly fund their projects, expand their reach, and provide even more essentials to people living in hardship.

Your vote could help keep shelves stocked with toiletries in local food banks. It could mean that a child no longer has to miss school, or that a parent can walk into a job interview with confidence. The impact of your support may feel small, but to those experiencing hygiene poverty, it can be life-changing.

How to Get Involved

Supporting The Hygiene Bank this September is as simple as taking a minute to vote in our charity poll. Voting is completely free and only takes a few clicks. Once you’ve cast your vote, you’ve made a direct contribution towards tackling hygiene poverty in the UK.

● Simply head to our Homepage

● Scroll until you see the poll (on the right hand side or near the bottom of the page)

● Cast your vote for The Hygiene Bank!

If you want to go further, you can also support The Hygiene Bank directly via their website. Many supermarkets, pharmacies, and high street stores also have donation points where you can drop off products. You can volunteer your time to help collect, sort, and distribute items, or even organise your own community collection.

How to Contact The Hygiene Bank For those who want to learn more, The Hygiene Bank’s website is the best place to start. There, you’ll find information about hygiene poverty, ways to donate or volunteer, and contact details for local projects. Their “What Is Hygiene Poverty?” section is particularly valuable if you’d like to understand the issue in depth and share it with others to raise awareness.

You can also connect with them through their social media channels, which frequently share stories from local projects and updates on their campaigns.

Vote Today and Spread the Word

This September, you have the power to make a difference. By voting for The Hygiene Bank in our charity poll, you’re not just clicking a button—you’re helping a charity that restores dignity, promotes equality, and gives people the chance to thrive. Hygiene poverty is a crisis that should not exist in the UK today, yet it affects millions. Together, we can help to change that.

Vote for The Hygiene Bank today and share the poll with friends and family. It’s free, it’s easy, and it could transform lives