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Parents are scraping out dirty nappies and reusing them, a charity worker said

By Claire Graham

BBC News NI

A charity that provides toiletries to 125 foodbanks, schools and refuges in Northern Ireland has said the stigma around hygiene poverty holds people back from getting help.

The Hygiene Bank has distributed over 62,600kg of nappies, sanitary items and other products throughout Northern Ireland since 2020.

Its coordinator stores supplies for the charity in her garage.

She said families feel ashamed asking for personal items.

Hilary Young, from Portglenone, County Antrim, said many people do not want to admit they need help but "when it comes to basic things particularly it's like a stigma, they feel ashamed they've had to do this".

"But more and more people are having to make that step," she added.

'Scrape the nappies off'

Ms Young works with the Ballymena unit of the charity but said her work now included areas from Maghera and Magherafelt to Antrim and Ballyclare.