ePetition - Implement a policy for the distribution of free sanitary products to schools to counter period poverty

Girls and young woman are feeling stigmatised, experiencing bullying and often missing school due to not being able to afford sanitary products. Research undertaken by Plan UK in 2017 found that:
• 1 in 7 girls (15%) have struggled to afford menstruation products.
• More than 1 in 10 (12%) have had to use items other than menstruation products to stem their menstrual flow (i.e. they have had to improvise menstruation towels/tampons).
• Almost half (48%) are embarrassed by their periods.
• Only 22% feel comfortable to talk to a teacher about their periods.
• More than a quarter (26%) said they did not know what to do when they started their period.
• 1 in 7 girls (14%) said they did not know what was happening when they started their period.

Brighton and Hove Council's Health and Wellbeing Strategy is to make Brighton and Hove a healthier, more equal city, with a thriving population by 2020 including the goal to improve the emotional health and mental health and wellbeing of children and young people.

We believe that the provision of sanitary products for all girls and young women at school will remove the stigma and bullying experienced by these young women and help support their educational engagement and attainment in school.

This ePetition ran from 01/06/2018 to 01/10/2018 and has now finished.

1188 people signed this ePetition.