During your school years, it’s likely that getting your period was a little restricting, but for some teenagers it’s completely debilitating. In the UK, 49% of girls have missed an entire day of school because of their period, whilst 1 in 10 young women (aged 14-21) have been unable to afford period products. In London alone, 80,000 young women and girls are affected by period poverty.
2018 saw significant progress for the cause in Britain, with the Scottish government becoming the first national government ever to provide free access to menstrual products in all schools, colleges and universities. The Government also recently announced that it will end period
poverty in English secondary schools. A scheme, starting in September, will echo the one already in place in Scotland. The Treasury will fund this in full, with period products available to all students who need them. Philip Hammond announced this on Wednesday, as part of the spring statement although many are now campaigning for the scheme to be extended to primary schools, too.
In a groundbreaking move, Welsh primary schools will give more than 141,000 girls in all primary and secondary schools access to free sanitary products under incredible new Welsh Government plans.
It was announced this weekend that ministers have set up a £2.3m grant for councils to fund the new scheme for those youngsters who can’t afford sanitary products.
Discussing the scheme, ministers said: “It’s unthinkable that young women could be forced to miss days of their education simply because they can’t access or afford period products.
“We’re committed to tackling this inequality in Wales and this funding will help make period products available to learners in all schools, free of charge and in the most dignified way possible.”
We seriously hope our government takes heed of Wales’s move and extends their scheme to primary schools, too.
