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]

[Sangeetha]

Thanks for this OP.

This is really, really important. I'm really glad you raised this. I haven't read all the thread but what I did read was disturbing and very troubling.

Young girls have enough to contend with. They don't need this on top of everything else.

[SurvivingTuesday]

Signed and shared.

What a blast of reality reading this thread. I'm so sorry for all these girls who have had to endure such hardship.

[mindovermattermum]

Signed.
Having a period is not a choice.

[user1496170327]

Hi Everyone! Thank so much for all your signs! I think more than 1.3k of you signed in the last day or so!

Can I ask you to please carry on signing and sharing?

As most of you have said, it's so important to make sure we provide girls the opportunity to go to school without stress. On the days when my period is heavy and I'm sometimes doubled over with cramps (like most of us), I wonder what it's like to have the additional stress of not having access to sanitary provision. I can barely imagine, but that's the reality for so many girls!

Let's give these girls back their dignity.

Please keep signing the petition - it would be amazing if we could get to 10k! That way, we get a response from the government, and one step closer to achieving a solution. Thank you!

[theresazanadu]

My friend grew up not being able to afford sanpro. Her household was really quite impoverished but her mum used to do everything to make it not feel like it was.
There was lots of love in the house, no dysfunctionality, no drink or drugs. But her dad couldn't work for health reasons.
So it gets my back up when people blame parental neglect. It really isn't all about neglect, trust me.
All credit to you for your efforts.

[annabelharrison]

Well done OP. This is a real achievement!

I encourage everyone to sign this so Mrs May finally wakes up to period poverty!

[lilyxx]

Signed.

This is so necessary. I've seen girls in real poverty and it's not a joke. Sanitary care isn't a luxury so why should we feel that it is? Agree that this is something that needs to be fixed urgently.

[TeaLoverLondon]

Ladies, please sign this. This needs to be seen by the next government. I'm a teacher working in an inner city school and poverty is rife.
Some girls miss school because of lack of provision (some talked to me about it), so I keep a basket of sanpro for them which I pay from my own pocket.
Yes this happens across the whole of the UK and it's despicable that nothing has been done up to now.

Signed. If you haven't already, I urge you to sign too.

[FionaCheung]

Signed.

[PoppyPrincess10]

I've signed. And well done to you OP.

What does everyone think about this being covered by the tampon tax rebate? It's our money. I'd much rather it went to helping girls who need help to avoid missing school.

[user1496170327]

Hi again!

I've been contacted by a very popular German newspaper for an interview on the campaign.

They'd like to speak to anyone who's experienced Period Poverty, anonymously of course.

If any of you would like to be featured, please email me at [email protected] and I'll put you in touch with the journalist.

Thanks!

[Mummym2005]

Cheapest sanitary towels ive seen were nineteen pence .asda i think?! Money given to alot of camilies living in so called poverty is spent on booze cigarettes takeaways and bingo.dont slate me for this ,i live in a town in one of the poorest areas of the uk and ive seen it. I was brought up in a working class family as one of eleven children.my family collected no benefits whatsoever and we managed ok ,thankyou very much! If ee must use taxpayers money for this give vouchers that can only be spent on this and nothing else. Not abad idea for the rest of it as well. Food and fuel vouchers couldnt be spent down the pub!sorry rant over! You can probably tell i feel quite strongly about this!

[RainbowsAndUnicorn]

Vouchers for essentials would be much better than child benefits, especially if there was a way of capping them to ensure they only could be spent on children's items. There would need to be harsh penalties if caught trading them to deter those who would deny their children.

[RoniaFairy]

I think vouchers would work too.
Don't forget that there are some girls who get through a large number of pads every day because of very heavy flow, so pads might be cheap, but it soon adds up.

[RainbowsAndUnicorn]

The issue of a voucher could trigger SS or FAmily Support. That way the girls get practical help and authorities can intervene to make sure the neglect is dealt with.

[IStoleThisUsername]

This view that a lot of people have that poverty is caused by cigarettes, booze, sky tv and gambling is really getting on my wick.

My mum was a widow and so single parent of 4 girls in the 80's, working full time as a nurse to support us all and keep a roof over our heads. I had a Saturday job in the greengrocer from age 12 and gave her the £4 I earned each week which she must have been heartbroken to take but had no choice. We were dirt poor, no family to help out and to actually ask her for money for anything wouldn't have entered my head.
She used to make all of our clothes and for neighbours as well for extra money and I can still remember the buzz of the sewing machine as I was falling asleep.

She didn't smoke, drink or go out at all. She did her best for us with what she had and to hear some of you just dismiss it as neglect or selfishness is enraging. Get off your high horses, acknowledge that what you actually 'think' is 95% wrong (most people in poverty/using food banks) are working families, and either help out without judging or fuck the fuck off.

[Want2bSupermum]

You used to be able to get SP on prescription for cases of poverty and you could also get things like clearasil and the 3 step Clinique face wash system (which is amazing for moderate acne). These items were removed because it was assumed benefits paid out would cover them. Well they don't. I would like to see SP items added back on and girls able to ask a pharmacist for SP items just you can go to a pharmacist for calpol when you have a baby.

[s00thsayer]

IStoleThisUsername
I salute you for telling us what you've been through. Your mum did everything she could for you, so it really gets my back up too when people start moaning about parental neglect, which is unfair and so ignorant.

I've signed and shared and well done OP for this. Everyone please sign so we can girls don't have to struggle as so many have done and still do.

[s00thsayer]

And Want2bSupermum I never knew you used to be able to get sanpro on prescription. What year was that, as I wasn't aware?

[MayorRolly]

Really moving experiences on this thread.

Signed. We can't be talking about this in 2017. We just can't.

[MummyDeares7]

What about moon cups for all girls on the NHS? Initial one off cost but more environmentally friendly on the whole?

[IStoleThisUsername]

s00thsayer apart from dad dying when I was 8 we had a happy childhood. We didn't have everything but there were only a handful of kids that did. It's not until looking back that I realise how hard it must have been for mum having 4 daughters all a year apart in age. I did the wrapping stolen tissue around my drawers trick but it wasn't because mum was neglectful - it was because I knew she didn't have 2 pennies to rub together half the time. I remember going to the pawn shop with her so she could pawn her wedding and engagement ring and she cried on the bus home. It's horrible to think that things like this are still going on today. I'm by no means well off but I help where I can, like food banks, and I would never ever look down on anyone's be so sanctimonious as some on this thread that just bundle everyone into the scrounger category without believing there's some bloody difficult circumstances going on that are in most cases out of the control of the person going through it.

[SailAwayWithMeHoney]

the mooncup proposal has been discussed many times on this thread already.

Not everyone can use a mooncup.

Young girls may not feel comfortable with a mooncup.

Mooncups need to be washed properly in warm water, of which some girls may not have adequate access to.

It doesn't sit right with me that the money is there to provide teens and young people with free condoms, but apparently not to provide sanitary towels and/or tampons to girls and teenagers. Sex is far easier to abstain from than menstruation.

[MummyDeares7]

Absolutely, impossible to abstain from menstruation. But you'd never think that would you, when sanpro are treated like luxury products.

This is so riduculous. - girls can't be missing school like this because they are girls!!!!

[WallToWallBastards]

I'm a student and I have endometriosis and polycystic ovaries, buying the cheapest sanitary towels can still cost me in excess of £30 a month, on top of the cost of needing to wash bedding (including pillowcases, yes it can be that heavy), mattresses, towels, clothes etc. Last year I came to mumsnet asking how I could stretch £20 over a month and some absolutely beautiful mumsnetters sent me toiletries, pads, a moon cup and washable pads. The mooncup was a lifesaver at the time when I was absolutely on my arse but I no longer use it if I don't have to because as much as I love the idea of them, they're definitely not always practical. I persevered but when I was rationing utilities it was difficult trying to wash the pads and sanitise the cup, and once I'd taken it out I could not get it back in because it was so painful. When I'm on week 15 of waking up in a pool of blood that's spread up my back to the pillows and down the sides of the sheets, and I'm having to take money from my food budget or bus money for the privilege of not leaving a trail behind me, it's fucking difficult.

Signed so fast my keys are smoking.