Stockport residents tee off in charity golf day that brought poverty hygiene to the fore
By Alex Greensmith
13th Sep 2024 | Local News
Eight Stockport golfers have teed off for charity.
Local charity Bare Necessities Toiletry Bank has just hosted their fourth Golf Day, sponsored by Anwyl Homes.
The event took place at Wilmslow Golf Club on Thursday, September 12.
The charity tackling hygiene poverty supported 12,000 people in Stockport, Cheshire East and South Manchester in the first half of the year.
And to help fund their vital operations, the good cause hosts a golf day every year as their main fundraiser.
Yesterday, a total of 24 teams took part in the golf day, including two teams from Stockport.
Charity founder Wendy Hobson explained: "Bare Necessities provides toiletries, hygiene products and beauty items in a range of packs to people in need across five sectors: women, youth and schools, mother and baby, homeless and food banks.
"We make monthly deliveries to 32 charities in the Cheshire East and South Manchester area.
"The packs contain differing requirements suitable for teens, men and women and also smaller 'wellbeing packs'.
"This year is our fourth golf day, with around £50,000 generated via the competition since the inaugural event in 2021.
"We are so humbled really, every year, we have no trouble filling out the teams. Thank you."
Of the eight Stopfordians that took part, the first local team to take on the 18-hole course was The Partee Boys, from Heaton Moor.
Team captain Marcus Quiligotti, who used to work in flooring and also did the charity golf challenge last year, spoke with Stockport Nub News.
"It is a great charity and it is something that is quite close to us", said Marcus.
"At the end of the day, there are a lot of people out there who are less fortunate than ourselves, so we would like to give a little bit back."
Alasdair Odilvie, a fellow Heaton Moor resident, added: "It is a wonderful idea, the charity."
"People are used to donating food, clothes, but you can often forget about hygiene.
"Why should people have to choose between food and hygiene? This is a super charity to support, and they are all nice people."
"Anyone that plays golf, realises that one of the most prestigious courses in Manchester is Wilmslow", added Marcus.
"And obviously, you have got supporting the charity on top, so it is a win, win, win."
Also golfing for a good cause was Bramhall resident Paul Benson. Paul, and three other Bramhall residents made up the playfully-named team 'The Drugbarons', a squad of retired pharmacists.
"It is great to be part of an event like this, that is supporting a very lesser known charity, but a worthwhile charity," Paul said.
"It is a pleasure to be here."
Pro golfer Oliver Pantoja also attended yesterday's fundraiser for the fourth year in a row, and ran a 'beat the pro' competition on the challenging downhill ninth hole, playing across the water.
Wendy added: "This year, including totes, other small packs and two campaigns of 'Give a Smile' and 'Suds Give a Wash Day', we have helped 12,000 local people living in hygiene poverty up until the end of June, with an expectation of almost doubling this by the end of 2024.
"We've also given 11 full pallets of toiletries to foodbanks.
"The cost of living crisis has obviously impacted all charities but our generous supporters have continued to donate products and money when they can."
Dr Abigail Gill is a trustee of Bare Necessities Toiletry Bank.
"We identified seven years ago there was a problem with hygiene poverty," said Abigail.
"If people are struggling to buy food, then they are not going to be able to buy toiletries.
"That was the momentum for setting up the charity."
"It is a hidden crisis really," revealed Wendy.
"There is a huge stigma around hygiene poverty, because people feel extremely embarrassed and sad that they cannot provide for themselves or their family.
"We have all done it, we have taken a step back and somebody smells dirty clothes, body odour or bad breath. But we pause for thought, and think why have they not been able to keep themselves clean?
"What about the impact of that on their mental health," added Abigail.
"Their self-esteem? Their children."
"It is a vicious cycle really, and hygiene poverty is a precursor to other types of poverty.
"The next things you are going to cut back on is food, heating and paying bills."
People from all walks of life benefit from the charity's work. For example, Bare Necessities work with women's aid networks, to street homeless provision. Wendy went on to detail the work the charity does in Stockport.
"We are not able to qualify need, so because of that, we only supply other registered charities and organisations, together we ensure it is going to people in need," she said.
"In Stockport, we work with Stockport Without Abuse, Chelwood Foodbank in Cheadle Hulme, Stockport Women's Centre as part of the criminal justice network in Manchester, and Buxton Road Men's Hostel for street homeless.
"We also work with SmartWorks [of St Petersgate, Stockport], who support unemployed women and propel them towards job success. We provide a wellbeing back, so the night before a job interview, a woman can treat herself to a full makeover in her bathroom. It is all about boosting self-esteem and confidence.
"We all feel better if we have washed our hair, look nice and smell nice. And that speaks for everyone."
Stockport: To find more about the charity, you can head to their site and socials.
To donate items or money, please click HERE.
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