Through a collaboration with The Hygiene Bank, the Community Team has been able to source essential items such as shower gels, shampoos and handwash to be distributed across eight academies in the region as part of their ongoing effort to combat hygiene poverty. 

Products were delivered to Co-op Academy Stoke-on-Trent, where they were distributed to each academy across Stoke-on-Trent. Liz Garrity, Head of Community and Regional Community Team Manager, the academy site team, Regional Community Managers from Manchester, Wirral, and West Yorkshire, and the dedicated Academy Community Pioneers from the Stoke and Staffordshire area, co-ordinated the distribution. 

Shane Richardson, Headteacher of Co-op Academy Stoke-on-Trent, said: “Thank you to Liz and her team and to the incredible donation by the Hygiene Bank. It's really appreciated and will definitely help so many of our families.”

Hygiene poverty has been found to create a significant barrier to learning and attendance for many students. This initiative aligns with the Trust's commitment to ensuring every child can access a quality education.

The Community Team is now planning additional deliveries in the run-up to Christmas, with Manchester next on the list, followed by distributions in West Yorkshire and the Wirral.
Georgina Loom, Head of Operations at The Hygiene Bank, said: “It is thanks to the amazing support of our brands and corporate partners that we can help people pulled into hygiene poverty all over the country.”

Daryl Tomlinson, Regional Community Development Manager (Greater Manchester), highlighted the broader impact, saying: “This generous contribution will make a real difference in supporting our students, their families, and our wider communities. It shows the impact we can make when we work together to support the well-being of our academies and communities.”