A NATIONAL charity that helps combat hygiene poverty has launched its Christmas campaign.

Sali Hughes, 46, co-founded Beauty Banks when she found there was a lack of essentials such as toothbrushes and razors available to homeless and impoverished people.

Sali, a beauty columnist for The Guardian, went to Jo Jones, a seasoned marketing expert, and together they came up with a way to use their influence to address the issue of hygiene poverty.

Beauty Banks sees donated hygiene products given out to various charities across the country to ensure the items go to those in need.

The Argus: The Beauty Bank in Churchill Square Superdrug. Photo: Jake Darling PhotographyThe Beauty Bank in Churchill Square Superdrug. Photo: Jake Darling Photography

The charity is encouraging monetary donations, as well as the usual products, this festive season.

The Make-A-Wash campaign is asking people to donate money to the charity on behalf of a loved one as a Christmas present.

Beauty Banks uses cash donations to help with the day-to-day running of the charity such as delivery and packaging fees.

It has had huge nationwide success and now has partnerships with four major companies including Superdrug, Estee Lauder, Babyliss and Cult Beauty as well as 100 others on an ad-hoc basis.

Sali, who was once homeless herself and now lives in Brighton, said: "I think what a lot of people don't realise is that actually being extremely poor means having to choose between eating or staying clean.

The Argus: Sali with the Beauty Bank in Churchill SquareSali with the Beauty Bank in Churchill Square

"It stands to reason, if you're in the supermarket, you need to eat first and foremost and anything else is an extravagance.

"Loads of people don't have access to a toothbrush that they can't change every three months, they might have to share it with their family.

"Lots of people can only afford to change their baby's nappy twice a day. We are a rich country, lots of us are in the position to just pop an extra couple of deodorants in our basket at Superdrug and put it in the bank."

The banks can be found at the tills of over 100 Superdrug stores, including 11 in Sussex, each with their own partnership with a different charity.

People are able to purchase a variety of products and place them in the designated bins, or donate money directly and the team then buys the essentials.

The items, such as deodorants, makeup wipes, tampons, razors and shower gel, are then given to a huge variety of charities including refuges, homeless shelters, NHS mental health trusts and food banks.

For health and safety reasons only new products can be accepted.

The Churchill Square branch of Superdrug is paired with The Clocktower Sanctuary in Brighton, which helps young people who are rough sleeping in the city.

Clocktower had a sharp rise in clients during the pandemic and Beauty Banks aims to help its young people get back on their feet.

Sali said: "I was a young homeless person, and I only ended up being OK because of the help of others. There is so much to play for when you're young. There is a real opportunity to turn things around.

"Clocktower is such an important charity, right in the heart of our city."

During the pandemic the charity was able to create care packages for NHS staff due to an influx of donations and donated hand sanitiser to hospitals, including Brighton's Royal Sussex County Hospital.

Following the spike in domestic abuse and in job losses, the charity found there was a higher demand.

Sali said: "People don't realise that lots of people are only one or two pay cheques away from living in poverty at any given time."

The charity initiated a fundraising drive and raised over £100,000 and received a huge number of products, which were all distributed to those in need through registered charities.

To find out more about how to donate and which products are accepted please visit www.beautybanks.org.uk.

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