Leeds workplaces and charities join the fight to end Period Poverty

According to an ActionAid poll, the number of UK women and people who are struggling with period poverty has risen from 12% to 21% since last year.

As the cost of everyday items continues to rise, women and people who menstruate are being forced to choose between which essentials they can buy. People affected by period poverty are prioritizing other everyday basics such as food and bills over the period products they need. Some people have even been forced to reuse disposable pads or leave tampons in longer, which can be severely dangerous to their health. 

Freedom4girls is a group set up in 2016, originally to provide support to women in Kenya, and brought to the UK upon hearing that girls in Leeds were missing school due to not being able to access affordable sanitary products.

They host workshops and events every last Friday of the month, with the aim to educate people on menstruation, provide free, reusable period products and teach sewing workshops where women can make their own reusable pads.

Event Organizer, Deborah Green, says that they want to “end period poverty for good.”

“If they can’t afford their heating bill, their water, their rent or food, then they aren’t going to go out and buy period products. They’re going to end up going without and that is what we want to stop.”

Reproductive Health groups like Fertifa advocate for workplaces to offer free sanitary products for employees, stating that they are necessary hygiene product like soap and toilet roll and can aid in the fight to end period poverty.

Vita Student Accommodation in Leeds have recently implemented a free period product scheme for employees. Assistant Manager Megan Walker created a “period basket” including pads and other sanitary products for staff.

“You might be at work and the shop is far away and products are quite expensive in the city centre” she said. “I thought it would be more accessible for in work so you shouldn’t be left feeling uncomfortable or worried you can’t afford it when it’s completely out of your control.”