Hygiene poverty and Covid-19

The Government wants you to remember three things – hands. Face. Space. But what happens to those without the means to adhere to strict hygiene during a pandemic? In a special report, we dive into the urgent support being provided to people who can’t afford soaps and showers.

Hygiene Bank founder Lizzy Hall tells us how her grassroots UK-wide network met growing demand even when shops closed and donations went down, and ShowerBox founder Sarah Lamptey reflects on lockdown after working tirelessly to make sure rough sleepers had somewhere to wash. Meanwhile Beauty Banks co-founder Sali Hughes speaks about the new campaign to stem hygiene shaming in schools and stop teachers having to provide to kids in need out of their own pockets.

Also in this week’s magazine:

• Investigative reporter Maeve McClenaghan writes exclusively for The Big Issue on how the street death of The Big Issue’s Fabian changed the way Britain counts the people who die without a home
• Cat Deeley is this week’s Letter To My Younger Self, read her thoughts on sitting on a massive champagne bottle at The Brits, cracking America, and having fond memories of the times when Ant and Dec were rubbish
• A Street Cat Named Bob actor Luke Treadaway is back with ITV period drama The Singapore Grip. He tells us how he has been consoling James Bowen after Bob’s death earlier this summer
• The extraordinary tale of how an obscure Russian rock anthem – Khochu Peremen by Kino – has become the soundtrack to political rage in Belarus
• Fact/Fiction is asking the big questions about Freddos. Does the price of the beloved chocolate bar really reflect our economics?
• And this week’s My Pitch vendor is King’s Lynn’s Cornell Toman. A proud ex-serviceman, he tells us why the government should do more to support veterans

Plus much more!

The latest Big Issue magazine is available now, from vendors all over the UK. If you’re unable to reach your local vendor, you can still subscribe to receive the magazine directly to your door or purchase through the Big Issue app.