National Hygiene Week 2021
The second ever National Hygiene Week is running from Monday 5th until Sunday 11th July 2021.
National Hygiene Week is all about starting conversations about hygiene poverty in the UK, in order to help end it in our society. It’s an annual week organised by The Hygiene Bank, a charity working to support those living in hygiene poverty
What is Hygiene Poverty?
Shockingly, research by the hygiene bank discovered that over 14 million people in the UK are living in poverty; this is around one-fifth of the country’s entire population.
Living in poverty means that you don’t have enough money to meet your basic needs. Hygiene poverty means that you are unable to afford essential hygiene products such as deodorant or shower gel. As well as causing discomfort, this can lead to mental and physical health problems.
What is Period Poverty?
One major example of hygiene poverty is period poverty.
Unfortunately, many people in the UK don’t have access to period products or have a safe space to use them. This means several days of discomfort every month, and can lead to health issues. Shockingly, research by phs discovered that 1 in 14 UK girls have missed school as they could not afford or access sanitary products.
phs and Period Equality
phs are working to end period poverty across the UK. We provide free sanitary products to English schools and colleges in partnership with the DfE. We also sit on the UK Government’s official Period Poverty Taskforce, Welsh Government’s Period Dignity Taskforce, and Blaenau Gwent’s Period Equality Taskforce. These taskforces all share one common goal; eliminating period poverty.
We also practice what we preach, and provide free period products at all phs offices and depots.
Essential hygiene products you can offer in your businesses
Whether your premises have public facilities or are for employee use only, you can help end stigma and support your community by offering free hygiene products in your premises. This could be as simple as setting a small budget aside for providing deodorant and sanitary products in your washrooms.
As well as helping to tackle hygiene poverty and reduce stigma, it simply makes sense for businesses to provide employees with hygiene products that will help them carry out their job. For example, if you have employees working sleep-in shifts, you could offer everyone complimentary toothbrushes and toothpaste.
Providing hygiene perks in your business premises will boost employee wellbeing and help everyone feel comfortable in the workplace.
> Shower gel for communal shower facilities
> Hand sanitiser to ensure protection is there when needed
> Period products for increased employee comfort
> Skin-friendly wet wipes for quick refreshes
Future proof your business
We are helping customers prevent the spread of germs and protecting their customers and staff with our hygiene bundles. Future proof your businesses with phs Direct:
Red - Washroom Hygiene Bundle
Contains 6 items to efficiently clean any size of washroom. Including: bio sanitiser and toilet cleaner
CODE: BC2216
Blue - Catering Hygiene Bundle
Contains 8 items designed to clean areas that handle food. Including: Alcohol surface wipes and washing up liquid
CODE: BC2217
Yellow - General Hygiene Bundle
Contains 9 items to help you thoroughly clean interior premises. Including: phone wipes and a FREE sanitiser dispenser.
CODE: BC2218