New research reveals UK school staff spent £40 million of their own money to support pupils facing hygiene poverty over the past year, sparking calls for immediate government intervention.
Hygiene Poverty in Schools Reaches Alarming Levels
A survey conducted by laundry brand smol, in collaboration with The Hygiene Bank, has found that 80% of school staff have witnessed a rise in hygiene poverty, with 4.2 million people in the UK unable to afford essential hygiene items. Over a quarter (28%) of state school staff have observed children missing school due to hygiene poverty, with pupils arriving in dirty uniforms and with unwashed hair.
Nearly 9 in 10 school staff (88%) have personally supported a pupil facing hygiene poverty, while over a third (40%) have taken it upon themselves to wash students’ uniforms. This financial and emotional burden has left teachers feeling “distraught” and “powerless,” with many calling for radical government-led changes.
Impact on Students and School Staff
Hygiene poverty has had a profound effect on children’s wellbeing and academic performance. Over half of school staff (62%) reported children attending school in dirty uniforms or without basic personal hygiene, such as clean hair or teeth. This has led to negative effects on students’ self-esteem, with 51% of staff noting a decline in confidence, and bullying (41%) and isolation (36%) becoming prevalent issues.
Alarmingly, 1 in 6 school staff (16%) have been approached by pupils who expressed concerns about fellow classmates suffering from hygiene poverty. Teachers are concerned not only for the children affected but also for the growing reliance on school staff to fill the gap left by insufficient government support.
Teachers Call for Government Action
Smol and The Hygiene Bank have launched the “Clean Up Child Hygiene Poverty” campaign, supported by the NASUWT teachers’ union. The campaign urges the government to address hygiene poverty in its upcoming Child Poverty Strategy, which is overseen by the newly formed Child Poverty Taskforce. As yet, the taskforce has not explicitly included hygiene poverty as part of its agenda.
The campaign invites the British public to contact their local MPs and urge the taskforce to take action. Smol has provided an online template to help streamline the process, which is available on their website. The campaign’s goal is to ensure that hygiene poverty becomes a key part of the government’s Child Poverty Strategy and that long-term solutions are implemented to address the issue.
Smol’s Support Initiatives for Schools
Since 2020, smol has provided mini laundrettes to 100 UK schools through its “Suds in Schools” initiative. This programme has been critical in helping schools provide clean clothes to children and their families, but it is not enough. With 42% of staff believing their schools will not increase support for hygiene poverty in the coming year, there is a pressing need for additional governmental aid.
Urgent Calls from Teachers and Charities
Ruth Brock, CEO of The Hygiene Bank, emphasised the severity of the situation: “It’s heartbreaking that in 2024, children are missing school because their families can’t afford basic hygiene items. Hygiene poverty is a silent crisis, affecting children’s health, wellbeing, and future prospects. Teachers should not be forced to bridge the gap—this is a systemic issue that requires urgent government action.”
Dr Patrick Roach, General Secretary of NASUWT, added: “No child should experience the shame of attending school in dirty clothes due to poverty. Teachers are bearing the brunt of the cost of living crisis, and we urge the government to address this issue through the Child Poverty Taskforce.”
Smol and The Hygiene Bank are determined to highlight the scale of the problem and have issued an open letter to the taskforce’s co-chairs, inviting them to visit schools tackling hygiene poverty firsthand.
