A local resident who established the Hygiene Bank charity in Wales has donated a variety of personal care items to a homeless hostel in Barry.

Caroline Volrath, from Bonvilston, got in touch with Ty Iolo to offer products to residents staying there.

The Hygiene bank is an organisation that provides personal care items to those that need them most.

Ty Iolo, in Barry, offers individuals facing homelessness accommodation in a 21-room complex.

Each room has its own bathroom and four offer disabled access. It also has a lounge and large kitchen.

The donations have gone to families and vulnerable single people, with the amount and variety able to satisfy a number of particularly specific requests.

Among the items sent to Ty Iolo are sanitary products, shampoo, shower gel, toothpaste, shaving kit and nappies.

The Hygiene Bank is a national charity that began in the South East, inspired by the Ken Loach film, 'I Daniel Blake', which highlighted how badly individuals in certain circumstances need personal products.

Cllr Ben Gray, Vale of Glamorgan Council Cabinet Member for Health and Social Care, said: "Ty Iolo is a fantastic service that offers some of the Vale's most vulnerable residents support when they need it most.

"It provides assistance to those that may find themselves in desperate situations and this partnership with The Hygiene Banks only adds to the help available.

"We are extremely grateful to Caroline for the generous donations received so far. They have made a real difference to the recipients."

Caroline quickly partnered with Ty Iolo after establishing the charity in the area.

The Hygiene Bank encourages the community to donate new, unopened toiletries and essential beauty grooming products via collection boxes situated in shops, service providers and public services.

There is a variety of donation drop off points available in Cowbridge which are listed below:

• Community Phone Box - Llantrithyd Rd, St Hilary, Cowbridge CF71 7DP

• Tesco Express - 44 High St, Cowbridge CF71 7AG, UK

• Cowbridge & Western Vale Group Practice (GP surgery) - The Broad Shoard,

Cowbridge, CF71 7DA.

Members of the public are also encouraged to be collectors for their office, sporting group, friends and family.

Donated products are sorted into essential toiletriesandgifts and further subdivided by product type.

The products are then reboxed or bagged according to type and distributed to charity partners,who in turn give them outtofamilies and individuals incrisis.

Caroline said: "Long before people go to a food bank, they stop buying toiletries, hygiene poverty has beenidentified as 'a hidden crisis'in Britainand one that is growing, according to areport in 2017 by In Kind Direct.

''Withlittle money to cover the cost of everyday essentials, some families are being forced to choose between buying food or buying personal hygiene items.

"Hygiene poverty is shaming, isolating and excluding. Clean hair, skin and teeth arenot a privilege. Tampons, toothpaste and a toothbrush are not luxury items.

"A very important part of our ethos is that what is donated locally, helps local people so all our projects help the very community you live in.

''We currently have several drop-off locations for donations within the Vale of Glamorgan and would like to expand across Wales.

"We are keen to hear from volunteers who would like to help to set up drop-off and collection points in their local area, as well as any companies who would consider hosting a collection point in their offices or may be able to help in any other way."

To donate, contact Caroline at [email protected]

Discover more about the Hygiene Bank and their work by clicking the red button below.