From stigma to support with the Suds in Schools initiative

What is Suds in Schools?

Suds in Schools is smol’s ongoing initiative to tackle hygiene poverty where it impacts children the most: in their education. 

Smol installs free-to-use washing machines in UK schools and supplies laundry capsules throughout the year at no cost, so families in need can access clean school uniforms without stigma, shame, or stress.

It all started in 2021, when Smol teamed up with long-time partner, The Hygiene Bank, to pilot its first in-school laundry site. Since then, the idea has grown into a national programme across the UK.

Amy Harris, head of Brand and Corporate Partnershiops at The Hygiene Bank said:

“The very first Suds in Schools happened in Blackpool with one of our projects. smol donated the washing machine, and all the detergent. That pilot’s now been replicated across the UK with over 100 machines in place.”

Why it matters

Hygiene poverty isn’t just about toiletries, it’s also about not being able to wash clothes. It affects families everywhere, including those in work, and it can have a serious impact on children’s education and wellbeing.

Children without access to clean uniforms are more likely to be bullied, miss school, and suffer from low self-esteem. As one teacher put it:

“It makes me feel for them as they have to fend for themselves and go through so much more just to get to school in the morning compared to other people, and then would be made fun of for little things.”

As a laundry brand, smol was in a unique position to help, not just with detergent, but with the machines themselves.

What schools are saying

“The machine is used daily and has become an essential element in our welfare provision for our learners.”

“Very grateful for the machine. It is used regularly by both staff and parents. We do coffee mornings to encourage parents to get over the thoughts of using it.”

“I hope you could see what a positive impact the washing machine has already had at our school, and we plan to encourage more opportunities for families to make the most of this resource.”

How you can support Suds in Schools

While smol’s original Crowdfunder campaign helped start the fundraising and it remains open for anyone who wants to donate at any time.

Ruth Brock, CEO at The Hygiene Bank said:

“I believe there’s so much we can accomplish together. We want to keep raising awareness and sparking conversations, particularly around the idea that hygiene is a basic human right, not a luxury.”

There are other ways you can help too:

• Spread the word – share this page on your social media to help smol reach more communities.

• Nominate a school – if you know a school that could benefit from a Suds in Schools setup, nominate them by emailing sudsinschools@smolproducts.com

You can help ensure that no child misses out on learning because of dirty laundry.