The Hygiene Bank (THB) Medway is one of our longest-running projects, launched officially in November 2019. They currently have 45 Community Partners, one of which is The Young Lives Foundation (YLF). This charity was Kent’s Mental Health Charity of the Year in 2024 and supports over 2000 youngsters aged between eight and 25 years old each year.
We were really keen to hear more about this partnership, so here’s Amy, Fundraising Co-ordinator at YLF and Emma, Project Co-ordinator at THB Medway to tell us more.
Emma starts by explaining how she came to be involved with THB: “I first heard about The Hygiene Bank…when I saw our founder, Lizzy Hall, speaking on TV about the work the charity was doing. At the time, my daughter — who is a primary school teacher — had been telling me about some of the children in her class who were clearly struggling with hygiene essentials. It upset me to hear that children especially were facing these challenges, often through no fault of their own.
“I felt strongly that no one — especially not children and young people — should be going without the basics that so many of us take for granted.”
It saddened me to know that families in my own community were struggling to afford things like shampoo, toothpaste or deodorant. I knew then that I wanted to help, and getting involved with The Hygiene Bank felt like the right way to make a meaningful difference locally.”
Amy and YLF are incredibly grateful that Emma took this step and started up THB Medway. “We have a dedicated team of staff and over 250 volunteers who build up trusted relationships with young people and offer emotional and practical support to them. The hygiene products we receive are distributed by the team when they’re visiting young people and our doors are always open for them to visit our office to collect any further essentials that they may need. This is invaluable as they are living independently with little income.”
As well as making donations to YLF, Emma and her team at THB Medway distribute over 900kg of hygiene products each month, and Community Partners report that this support is reaching more than 500 households and nearly 2000 individuals every month.
“The ongoing cost of living crisis has affected so many individuals and families, making hygiene poverty a very real and increasing issue in our community.”
Amy also touches on this: “The cost-of-living crisis has had a profound impact. Many young people, especially care leavers living independently, face heightened financial pressures and struggle to afford necessities, including hygiene products, food, and utilities. This economic strain has led to an increased demand for our programmes through an increase of referral, as more young people seek both practical and emotional support.”
She goes on to share how grateful the young people are that receive support from THB Medway – “many young people share how these items alleviate the stress of managing tight budgets, allowing them to focus on other essential needs like food and housing. They often highlight the positive impact on their confidence and well-being, noting how having access to basic hygiene products helps them feel more presentable and self-assured in daily life. Care leavers appreciate the security, knowing they have a reliable source for these essential items if needed.”
Beth’s story
Beth is one of the many young people supported by YLF and THB Medway. She was struggling to adjust to independent living and faced financial hardship. Unable to afford basic hygiene products, Beth’s confidence and mental health suffered. She felt isolated and overwhelmed and this took a toll on her self-esteem and ability to seek opportunities.
Amy says “through our support, including the provision of hygiene items from The Hygiene Bank and consistent one-to-one mentoring, Beth began to regain her confidence. Beth’s volunteer set achievable goals, provided emotional support during difficult times, and guided her in developing essential life skills. With improved self-esteem, Beth secured part-time employment, which not only eased her financial burdens but also boosted her sense of independence and purpose. Encouraged by her progress, she eventually enrolled in a college course, pursuing a subject she was passionate about.”
After receiving this support, Beth told Amy “having access to essential items makes me feel genuinely cared for and supported. Having someone to rely on, and getting practical help gave me the motivation and hope I needed”.
Hygiene poverty affects people from all walks of life
The network of partners that THB Medway supports is wide-ranging, and is still growing, which shows how widespread the issue is. Schools, youth groups and family support organisations to food banks, domestic abuse refuges, refugee support groups and more. This shows that hygiene poverty isn’t limited to one group — it affects people from all walks of life, and for many different reasons.
Emma adds “the scale of the support varies depending on need — sometimes it’s a single tote bag filled with nappies and toiletries for a new mum who’s struggling, and other times it’s a 250kg delivery to a local family hub supporting multiple families. But no matter the size of the delivery, every single request is treated with equal care, because the impact of receiving that support is just as significant for each person.”
No two days are the same for Emma, which she says is one of the reasons she loves her volunteering role. “On average, I volunteer around 40–50 hours each month, and I’m fortunate to be supported by an amazing team of local volunteers who help keep the project running smoothly.
Some of my tasks include managing our social media accounts to raise awareness, processing new requests for support, emptying donation boxes, purchasing essential hygiene products, building and maintaining relationships with Community Partners and applying for funding, which is absolutely vital to keep the project going.”
Shared purpose in Medway
There’s a real sense of pride amongst the team from THB Medway, seeing that they’re helping so many people. Emma continues, “one of the things I enjoy most is meeting other amazing people who are also doing great things in our community. There’s a real sense of teamwork and shared purpose — and being part of something that’s making a genuine difference feels really special.”
The teamwork extends wider as well, and Emma is grateful for the support from The Hygiene Bank central team. She says “[they] have been invaluable in supporting us. Being part of a larger, well-established charity while working locally gives our project an identifiable and trusted brand. This recognition helps when reaching out to partners, donors, and community members, as they know we are serious, well-governed, and trustworthy.”
We are also very grateful for Emma and the team’s commitment, enthusiasm and passion about ending hygiene poverty in Medway. Emma has been acknowledged with awards such as the Pride in Medway, BBC Make a Difference Award, and the Kent Charity Awards — all in volunteer categories.
Emma concludes “these moments of recognition are incredibly encouraging, not just for me personally, but for the whole team of volunteers who make the project possible. They reinforce that our efforts are valued and are making a real difference in the community.”
