Thanks to an ongoing partnership with The Hygiene Bank, we received a delivery of eight pallets of essential hygiene products to distribute to across seven of our Bradford-based academies.

The delivery, which arrived at Co-op Academy Grange last month, included shower gels, handwashes, shower foams and washing tablets and will allow us to continue to support and address the critical issue of hygiene poverty. 
The Community Team worked alongside Grange’s operations team and local Academy Community Pioneers to sort and distribute to neighboring academies.

Recent poverty-proofing reports from local academies identified a significant need for household detergents and washing supplies. In response, the team successfully secured two additional pallets of household detergents through The Hygiene Bank, further addressing this vital need.

Emma Hardaker, Headteacher at Co-op Academy Delius, commented, “Hygiene and washing products were identified as a particular area of need for our SEND families through our Poverty Proofing Audit.

“This donation will greatly assist in supporting those families and ensuring they have access to the essential items they need.”

Hygiene poverty has been shown to create a significant barrier to learning and attendance for many students. This initiative is an important part of the Trust’s broader efforts to eliminate such barriers and ensure that every child can access a high-quality education without the hindrance of basic hygiene needs.

Looking ahead, the Community Team is preparing for another delivery of hygiene products to academies in Leeds this spring, continuing their commitment to supporting communities across the region.

Head of Community Development, Liz Garrity, said: “Will, the new Regional Community Manager for West Yorkshire has recently joined the team. He has been an amazing addition and his unwavering dedication to our academies in West Yorkshire resulted in this Hygiene Bank delivery for all the academies that he supports.”