A ‘hygiene bank’ is being set up to help people who may be without essential hygiene products because of the cost-of-living crisis.

Ruth Crane, who is the manager of the Yewdale Community Centre in Carlisle, said this was set up after hearing about Hygiene Bank, a nationwide charity that aims to set up hygiene banks at various locations across the country.

The Hygiene Bank believes that basic hygiene is not a privilege and that everyone should have access to essential hygiene products.

Ruth explained: “It’s to alleviate hygiene poverty.

“(The charity) estimates there are over 3.1million people struggling to buy hygiene products and it’s creating social isolation and embarrassment.

“We started a little hub called a home hub just before Christmas, a bit like a food bank but it provided household products.

“Following on from that, we heard about Hygiene Bank,” which she said led her to set up the Carlisle branch, the first of its kind.

Ruth said the hygiene bank in Carlisle will be up and ready in a couple of months, and added: “We haven’t got a specific date set but we are in the process of signing up companies as partners so they can supply products.

“In March, Boots will launch hygiene donation boxes across their stores in the area.”

This is in association with the nationwide charity as a whole, and other Boots stores will be doing the same across the country.

Ruth said the partnerships she is seeking to finalise are with the Currock Community Centre, Brampton Community Centre, and Carlisle Youth Zone, which will see similar donation boxes situated there, from which the products will be available.

“All the products are completely free, no one has to sign up for anything, and we will either refer them to one of our local partners.

“We will be accepting donations from the public here as well,” she added.

All products donated must be completely unused and unopened, and they are looking for a variety of products, everything from razorblades to deodorant, toothpaste, tampons, and everything in between.

Ruth said people should stay updated by visiting the Facebook page called The Hygiene Bank Carlisle.

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