Girls missing school because of poverty

[user1496170327]

Hello Everyone!

Thanks to everyone who suggested posting in this thread!

I'm a teenage girl who's started a campaign to help girls who can't afford sanitary products.

Some of you may have read recently that girls across the UK skip school because they can't face the shame of going to school without adequate sanitary care.

Some use socks, toilet roll and sellotape, or even newspaper. Young girls are living in such extreme poverty, and I believe this must be discussed and addressed, especially when this can harm their health.

I was absolutely horrified that this is happening in Britain and felt that something had to be done. So, I'm calling on the government to provide free sanitary provision for girls in need, as a first step. I'm writing to MPs every day and the response, so far, has been really positive. I think that this is something that can happen with enough support!

I'm really hoping that you will agree that this is so very important- that all girls should be able to access essential care and go to school with confidence and that we should not be disadvantaged because of our gender. May I ask you to add your name to my petition to the government, and if you could share on social media, that would be amazing!

https:/https://www.change.org/p/theresa-may-mp-free-sanitary-products-for-girls-on-free-school-meals-freeperiods

I'm writing an article for a newspaper about period poverty in schools, and if you've been in this dreadful situation yourself, I'd really appreciate it if you could get in touch, if you're happy to!

Thank you so much for your support!! I really appreciate it, and I believe that if enough people want to change this situation, we can make it happen. Thanks again!

[email protected]

Just a tub of products in one bathroom stall in each bathroom at school. Filled up when the loo roll is filled up.
Ask to PTA/FOS or a letter to parents asking for donations when products are on offer. A note on the tub saying..if you need one..take one..and let the secretary in school know if the tub has less than x products in it. Simples.

FabulousDahlink not so simple when the school is in one of the most deprived areas around and most parents in the same boat..

I feel very strongly that these girls are helped. Govt intervention is needed here and a long term solution.
Let's help these girls! Many are just babies at 10 or 11!

I will be sharing this petition and urging people to sign! So so important!

Real poverty exists and please don't deny that's the case.
FFS have some compassion, all those posters saying it only costs x no of pence. I'm sorry but everyone has a story and just because you don't understand it doesn't mean it doesn't exist.

Thanks OP. This needs to be raised as a real issue and I'm glad I'm not the only one who knows what it's like. Signed and shared

Signed!

So many heartbreaking stories here. Whatever the reason, these poor girls are suffering. It's wrong!

Thank you OP for highlighting the issue.

I've signed and shared. I also work in education and I am always stocking up for students who can't afford them. Good luck with you campaign.

Well done OP for starting this.
Fabulousdahlink good concept and would work in schools with a mixed demographic of kids, but like another poster said, when the school is in a deprived area, there may be lots of girls in the school who are in poverty. Sending out a note to parent to ask for donations will be as waste of time I fear when most girls are in desperate need of them.
A better solution is for the government to start realising that this is a real problem!
Stop turning a blind eye and act!
Signed.

I'm fortunate in that I don't face this struggle, but I have sat and cried today reading the posts here.

There is so much poverty here. I don't think I realised until I read this and I realise that I'm lucky that I can say that.

All of you who have experienced this period poverty first hand, I feel for you and I say that genuinely and in good faith.

It's time to act. Thanks to this thread we may get some action from the government and I urge everyone to sign this and ask that your families and friends do. If they have a heart, they will do the same.

Annabelle.

I work in housing benefit and am very aware of the limited income available particularly families reliant on disability benefits. Next time anyone queries what "poor" is google benefit limits and just try to imagine living on that amount alone for a week....once you've deducted all your essential weekly expenses deduct school shoes, trainers, uniform, broken boilers, broken cars, bus fares, winter coats....need I go on. I've seen families use two nappies a day max because they need to feed said baby. Our food banks etc would massively benefit from sanitary products, soap, toilet rolls, nappies, shampoo....

user1469987506 I work for an agency where I see this all day long and then some.
I'm frustrated that people question why people can't afford to give their girls sanitary products...tax credits need only to be paused or circumstances changed to mean you can go for eating sandwiches for dinner one night to having bread and margarine another...
If you're not sure what poverty is, reading this thread will give you some insight.
I've signed and put o mFB.

Missus children's services are taking steps to sort it out. There is plenty family keeping an eye out, it's just hard to see.

The sad thing is there will be girls all around the country going through similar and worse.

I've used a menstrual cup for 10 years, and I've calculated across that time it's worked out at about 7p per period. Which does make it affordable if you break it down like that, but I can imagine that for many people the one off cost would be too much.

You do need good hygiene with it to avoid issues, it needs to be rinsed when emptied (you can get away with not doing so once or twice if out, but does still need doing once you're back somewhere where there is a toilet and sink together), and also sterilised. For people who are in abject poverty, and who may not have decent washing facilities at home (which can happen as shown on a previous post where a school had to provide showers and toiletries for several pupils) you may not be able to clean them properly, which can lead to problems.

This is an very important petition.

What can we all do to make sure it gets proper exposure and more signers?

I agree - this is really important.

I've just tweeted to some female celebs hoping they retweet.

I've sent the link on WApp to my contacts and I know they will sign too.

Done!

Well done lass, good for you for doing something about this disgraceful situation. It's made me realise I need to give sanpros to our local foodbank
I have been in similar position but as an adult...I used old towels cut up and then had to wash them through, by hand as couldn't afford a washing machine.

Agreed, well done on starting something that's getting big!

Sprockermum your story sounds too familiar.....I know what it feels like to panic when you come on cos you know the next week will be stressful, a nightmare.

I was a child. I started my period at 11. I used to use jumpers cut up and roll tissues inside them. I leaked, I ruined clothes. I got laughed at.

it sickens me that nothing has changed.

This petition needs to be seen by the government. I've signed.

Completely agree that a huge number of cases come down to parental neglect! Bet they have huge TVs and cigarettes!

*lolalola19
*
Astonishing.

Fuck off lolalola19

lolalola people have been through this numerous times.
Some people are in genuine poverty. Theoretically, benefits and the minimum wage are adequate to meet basic needs, however there are many ways people can fall into a poverty trap - sanctions, errors and delays in assessments, self employed people suffering cash flow problems, parents leaving abusive relationships, etc etc
Some parents just can't cope with budgeting - perhaps through mental health problems, learning difficulties, etc.
Some parents (hopefully a small minority) don't give a shit about their children.
Guess what? We are talking about children here, living in a first world society. No one should have to miss school because they don't have sanitary protection. It's simply not good enough.

I dont know where my local foodbank is but if i find out i think i may take a parcel of sanitary items , my mums post menopausal and has a lot spare ...its inspired me.

lolalola19, even if it's parental neglect, do you propose we just shrug our shoulders and leave the girls to rot?

Shocking ignorance.

I'm the mother of a 13 yo dd who started her periods when she was 9 and still at primary school, I hate to think of the embarassment of not having sanitary protection.
I am now 54, my mother left my dad and younger sister when I was 13, I therefore had to buy my own sanitary protection, I was too embarassed to go to the old fashioned chemist and buy sanitary towels so used to re-use old ones, I must have smelled dreadful !
I didn't want my dd to ever be put in that situation ( although times have moved on and sanitary products are more readily available in supermarkets etc now )
What about a buy one sanitary product and another is donated to someone in need ( via foodbanks etc ) ?

No, we should be campaigning for more social workers to treat the cause not just throw yet more free things at people as that solves nothing and, of anything, sends a message of its ok to not buy essentials for children.

Signed