Portsmouth Hygiene Bank joins BBC Radio Solent Soapbox Appeal

Portsmouth Hygiene Bank is asking people to donate new, unused, in-date personal care and household cleaning essentials - including deodorant, shower gel, shampoo, make-up, nappies, toilet roll, laundry detergent and surface cleaner.

The charity is also collecting unwanted ‘smellies’ that people may have been given as Christmas gifts such as bath and shower products, body sprays, perfumes and more.

Not having access to hygiene products can bring shame, humiliation and potential social isolation. Sadly, there are many people in Portsmouth that face hygiene challenges like these everyday

• Not able to change their baby’s nappy as often as needed
• Have to wash their hair, bodies and clothes in the same cheap washing up liquid used for the dishes
• Are housebound because they can’t afford period protection
• Can’t wash their clothes and their kids’ school uniforms because they have to choose whether to buy electricity or laundry liquid

Anybody wishing to take part in the Radio Solent Soapbox Appeal can drop off hygiene products at The Havelock Centre, Fawcett Road, Southsea.

Any products collected will be sorted by Hygiene Bank volunteers and distributed via community partners including schools, churches, food pantries and community groups across the City.

Amy Feist, founder of the Portsmouth Hygiene Bank, comments: “We are delighted to be taking part in the BBC Radio Solent Soapbox Appeal. Although we collect hygiene products all year round, we fully support this appeal as it shines a light on the challenges of many people in Portsmouth who are living in poverty and cannot afford to stay clean. At The Hygiene Bank, we believe it is not right that feeling clean should be a luxury or a privilege for anyone in our community.

“If you can manage, we are asking for donations of everyday hygiene products including household cleaning products as well as any unwanted Christmas gifts such as bath and shower products, hair products, body sprays and make up. If you don’t think you’ll use it, rather than sticking it in a cupboard please donate it so we can pass it onto those in need ”

If you would like to drop off hygiene products you can do this at The Havelock Centre, Albert Road, Southsea as well as Boots branches across Portsmouth - Commercial Road, Ocean Village Retail Park, Gunwharf and Southsea.

If you can’t get to a drop off point, you can also donate via the Portsmouth Hygiene gift list on Common Good which helps charities get the products they most need For Common Good

If you are a business interested in hosting a Hygiene Bank Drop off point, you just need to provide a collection box in your premises that can be accessed by members of the public to drop off cleaning essentials and personal hygiene products.

A hygiene bank volunteer will collect the products as and when you need and take them to be sorted and distributed to our network of community partners - a mix of organisations, charities and schools.

To become a Hygiene Bank collection partner or if you are an organisation interested in receiving donations from The Hygiene Bank please contact The Portsmouth Hygiene Bank via email [email protected]