County Durham charity worried families can't afford sun cream to let kids play out
Durham Hygiene Bank says sun cream should be an essential item
A charity in County Durham say they're worried young people living in poverty can't play outdoors this summer as they can't afford items like sun cream.
The Hygiene Bank says families shouldn't have to choose between keeping their children safe in the sun or other essentials that they need.
Grace Dunn is from the Durham branch and she said: "I think it can be difficult even for people who aren't experiencing hygiene poverty, particularly with the rising cost of pretty much everything. When people are already having to think about things like food, bills and heating, something like sun cream just seems so out of reach and so far down the list for people already struggling.
"The inflated prices just exacerbate those difficulties even further and I know people who aren't experiencing hygiene poverty, there is still a struggle there because the prices are just insane. I do not remember it ever being this expensive when I was younger so it is kind of crazy.
"Hygiene products are essentials and there are things that most of us probably don't even think twice about buying but for someone who's struggling financially, they can be another expense that they just can't afford. So even something really simple like donating a bottle of shampoo or some sun cream can really make a difference.
"We know that the cost of sun cream can be a barrier for families who are already struggling financially. And obviously young people should be able to enjoy being outdoors safely without having to worry about heat exposure and being protected from the sun, particularly during the summer.
"I think that families shouldn't have to choose between keeping their children safe in the sun and being able to afford all of the other essentials that a family needs. I also heard that some beaches in Australia, they have free sun cream stations for everyone to use. And I think this would be a really valuable thing to implement here as well, even if it's just temporary during the heat waves.
"Sun cream is definitely something people shouldn't overlook. I remember when I first was thinking about the hygiene bank, I was just thinking of toothpaste, deodorant, period products, rather than sun cream. And I remember being surprised when I first saw a donation of sun cream, because I guess I just didn't even think of it as an essential, even though it definitely is.
"It is really important for protecting your health, particularly when we're having a really hot summer as obviously there's risk of sunburn, sunstroke and longer term things like skin cancer. So I think it is important that we recognise sun cream as an essential rather than just something nice like a seasonal extra or something."
Find out more about the Hygiene Bank on their website.