Wokingham Tesco has joined forces with some of its leading health and beauty suppliers to distribute personal care items to local people who are in need.
Household names such as Radox, Sure, Bodyform and Aquafresh are among those involved in the scheme, which sees suppliers donate a product to charity Kind Direct when shoppers make two purchases from the selected range of hygiene products in store.
Kind Direct works with charities, community groups, food banks and schools to get much-needed hygiene products into the hands of people who need them.
Rosanne Gray, CEO at In Kind Direct, said: “Many people experiencing hygiene poverty face the impossible decision to heat, eat or keep clean on a daily basis, and unfortunately more and more people are being pushed into this position.”
Recent research commissioned by Essity, in partnership with Tesco and In Kind Direct, has illustrated how Wokingham people are currently experiencing hygiene poverty.
Families are often impacted, and this survey revealed that 13% of households with dependents in the region have gone without hygiene products such as shampoo or deodorant.
The survey also found that those people across the region who have struggled to buy hygiene products during the last year have had to borrow from friends or family (27%) or used free products in public areas (27%).
“We know hygiene poverty disproportionately affects those already struggling, but research shows that financial difficulties are now impacting everyone,” adds Rosanne. “The ripple effect impacts mental health, workplace productivity and school attendance – it’s something that requires collective action which is why we’ve formed this partnership with Tesco and some of our committed corporate partners to help reduce hygiene poverty.”
Thomas Maier, category buying manager for beauty and personal care at Tesco, added: “This new research highlights how the number of families being impacted by hygiene poverty has grown in recent years.
“That is why the work done by In Kind Direct to help people is so important and we are really pleased to be working again with our suppliers to provide hygiene products where they are needed most.”
The campaign is running in the Tesco Wokingham Superstore until June 11. Find further details in store.
