Human Right to Hygiene
Human Right to Hygiene is led by In Kind Direct. It draws on research commissioned by In Kind Direct, supported by Andrex and carried out by New Philanthropy Capital (NPC).
Our new report maps the systems behind hygiene poverty, and crucially, outlines a Roadmap to Change with concrete steps we can take to help end hygiene poverty.
Every person deserves to feel clean. But for those forced to make the daily decision whether to heat, eat or be clean, this human right is simply beyond their reach.
Hygiene poverty has a profound effect on people’s lives, but just 37% of British adults have heard of hygiene poverty. It is often a precursor to other forms of poverty, with many having already gone without basic hygiene products before going to a foodbank. It can leave people feeling shame and stigma and have a negative effect on their mental and physical health.
We believe times of crisis are when long-term change happens. With 8.4 million adults expecting to have to go without a hygiene product this winter because they can no longer afford them, the time to act is now. We must end hygiene poverty now.
In this report, In Kind Direct has developed a roadmap of actions that can have the greatest leveraging effect to end hygiene poverty. We believe the next step is the development of a practical and timebound National Implementation Plan, supported by the creation of a dedicated Hygiene Poverty Alliance.
We believe times of crisis are when long term change happens. So we’re calling on businesses, charities and public bodies to join us today.
Together, we can protect the human right to hygiene.
If you have any questions about this research, or if you would like to learn more about our systems mapping work, please reach out here
Latest Posts
View allSt Andrews Youth Club is a community-based youth club and registered charity that has been enriching young lives for more than 150 years. Supporting over 500 members each year, the club provides a sense of belonging, fun and informal education, helping young people build self-confidence, develop respect for others and grow into active, positive members of their communities.
Read moreWith a new Prime Minister and a new Government agenda, we explore what the early policy priorities could mean for tackling hygiene poverty. From cost-of-living measures to a renewed focus on devolution and local decision-making, find out how we think these changes may shape the landscape for our network communities across the UK.
Read more2025 has been a year of significant progress for In Kind Direct, both in the scale of our impact and in how we are shaping our future. The numbers speak for themselves: together with our partners, we supported more people than ever before, reaching 930,000 people each week through our network of over 9,000 charitable organisations.
Read more