As we wash our hands, our hair or have a shower, I wonder if we remember that not everyone has the same access to those products that we do.

In these days when one of the impacts of COVID is on family budgets, the cathedral continues its work in support of organisations such as Horton Housing with the provision of groceries, but has not so far encouraged basic toiletries to be offered within our gifts.
Some time ago there was a report that when family budgets become tighter, family toiletries are the items which are inevitably sacrificed in order to concentrate on basic food supplies. Someone who heard this report, collected their spare shower gels, shampoos etc but before taking them along to the collection point, sent a message to their own WhatsApp group asking if they would like to do the same. Each member of that group, similarly contacted their own groups, and before too long there were plenty of toiletries for everyone.
The cathedral will be collecting, on behalf of the community committee, the following items when it resumes limited public worship on Palm Sunday:
- Shampoo / conditioner
- Toothpaste
- Shower gel
- Deodorant
- Soap
- and other similar items
Look out for the collection box (pictured above) near the cathedral north door entrance from Sunday 29th March 2021