Donate a Soap

If you're treating yourself and can afford to spend a little more why not spread some cheer by donating a bar of beautiful soap to someone in need?  Bones loves Bubbles will donate £1.49 towards the cost so you're paying £6.50 instead of £7.99.

Life is challenging for most of us at present but for people struggling to pay for food toiletries are unlikely to make it onto a shopping list. Whilst soap is essential for good hygiene, cheap mass manufactured soaps tend to be harsh on the skin which is particularly unhelpful for those who are unlikely to be getting enough skin nourishing nutrients in their food or to have skin creams.  That aside, the whole experience of living below the breadline is soul destroying, exhausting and puts huge stress on mind and body. Bones loves Bubbles' soaps clean skin and have the added bonus of helping it feel good whilst their uplifting aromas brighten the toughest of days. A bit of kindness goes a long way, so let someone know they're not alone and treat them to a luxurious soap that will help lift their spirits whenever they use it.

You've a choice of two groups for donations with us which are Asylum Seekers and Refugees via Global Link/Lancaster and Morecambe City of Sanctuary, and Food Bank Users via The Olive Branch, Lancaster.  To donate, simply choose where you'd like the soap to go and add it to your basket, then we'll make sure it gets there.   Please give your normal postal address when ordering. Thank you for donating!

* Why Asylum Seekers and Refugees?

Asylum seekers endure hazardous journeys in search of safety after fleeing war, persecution and devastation in their homelands.  Often, they spend their life savings and take on debts to escape because access to safe, UK government authorised routes is limited and it can be years before the right to enter the UK is given.  (As I write this in March 2023 there are still people stuck in Afghanistan who worked for the British there, forced to hide in fear for their lives from the Taliban, who took over in August 2021, and Ukrainians waiting for leave to come to the UK after Russia invaded in February 2022.)  Asylum seekers can apply for asylum in any country they reach.  When that country accepts they are unable to be protected in their home country asylum seekers are given refugee status.  In the UK, until then, asylum seekers are unable to work and do not have the same rights as anyone else.

Living costs for asylum seekers in the UK depend on the type of accommodation in which they live: those in places where food is provided are given £1.14 a day, whilst people in flats/houses have £5.83 a day from which to buy everything they need to live.

If refugee status is granted the process of starting a new home from scratch without any savings begins, but at this stage a refugee can claim benefits and start looking for work if they are in a position to be able to do so.  

Everyone is struggling at the moment, but for some the struggle is immense.

* Why Food Bank Users?

There has been a huge increase in the number of people reliant on food banks in recent years as costs have risen dramatically across the board.  People on lower incomes have to spend a disproportionate amount of their income on food and/or energy costs with some going without meals to be able to keep warm in winter or to be able to feed their children. When prices increase, essentials have to be cut back again. 

Universal Credit is a benefit paid to people who are in work, out of work or too ill to work.  The way it is designed means that new claimants must wait several weeks before their first payment is received, meaning people may be reliant on food banks until then.  Payment amounts are dependent on age and other circumstances but for over 25s the monthly amount for a single person will be £368 and for a couple £578  from April 2023. The amounts are lower for under 25s. There are additional amounts payable for disabled people, those with health conditions that limit their ability to work, plus for those with children (maximum payment is for 2 children). Although Universal Credit entitles claimants to help with rent if someone is in a home with a spare bedroom then this is not covered in the rent element leaving them finding rent costs out of their allocation for living costs. 

Once in the system, even for the best of budgeters, unexpected life events, delays and changes to payments, plus the punitive sanctions system can force people to need to use the food bank. Sanctions can be applied to people such as low income self employed, for instance, who do not reach an arbitrary target set for them by the DWP, reducing their income for a set number of weeks.  People who use food banks need toiletries as well as food, support and hope.