Daisy Wakefield didn’t spend the last of her student loan on the usual things students do. The 22-year-old, from the University of West England in Bristol, decided to use it to help tackle period poverty.
After asking her university to offer free sanitary products for those who menstruate, Daisy failed to hear back from them.
So the drawing and print student decided to pay for them herself and deposit them around campus to help those who needed it.
She designed and created 40 handmade boxes for the sanitary products including important statistics about period poverty.
For the first time at the university, students were able to access free pads and tampons, thanks to Daisy’s work.
She has been involved with campaigning around period poverty for the past few years, creating art around the issue and placing posters around Bristol to raise awareness.
She also offered information on what options are available for those who can’t afford to buy regular products.
‘I wanted to do this because I believe this is a feminist issue,’ said Daisy.
‘One in ten people who menstruate in the UK can’t afford the essentials to actually menstruate – that honestly baffles me.
‘The university has a duty of care for all their students and it’s time they recognised people missing university because they can’t afford a tampon is also their responsibility.’
According to Plan International UK, 40% of girls in the UK are thought to have been forced to resort to toilet roll because they couldn’t afford products.
In response to Daisy’s project, the university said: ‘Period poverty is a global issue and we’re pleased UWE Bristol students are passionately advocating for change.
‘The University does not currently supply free sanitary products on campus, though we would be pleased to meet with students to understand if there is an emerging need for this.
‘All students can access the Blackbullion app to help their budgeting and our money advice service can provide vouchers in emergencies.’
The establishment also said home students can access a support fund and summer fund to cover composite living costs, and there is an emergency fund accessible to international students.
They added that short term loans can be arranged for any student with less than £100 in their bank account.
In March, Chancellor Philip Hammond announced that sanitary products would be available for free for secondary school students in England for the first time.
Scotland already has a similar scheme, which is believed to cost about £5,000,000 a year.
As yet, there are no plans to roll it out to university level.
MORE: Girls in primary school experience period poverty too – where are their free sanitary products?
MORE: The responsibility to end period poverty lies with government – not teachers
