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]

[FreeNiki]

Also those bleating about bus fares and postage.

Go to Superdrug online. Register for their health and beauty points card which is free. That card then qualifies you for free standard delivery on online orders and plenty of offers just for having the card.

there really is no excuse, you can buy cheap towels with no postage charges.

[needsahalo]

So sanitary towels available at school for any girls who might need them? No problem smile Doesn't have to be a policy!

I think you will find many teachers are already providing food, sanpro, pens, the odd top up £1 for lunch or bus. Why should it come out of our pockets?

[MelaniaMacron]

Signed and shared. But maybe it would be more effective to offer tampons/towels to all girls by simply putting supplies in the girls toilets so that the following groups don't miss out

a. Those who don't qualify for FSM (or whose parents didn't sign them up) but still can't afford sanpro, or whose parents for whatever reason can't or won't provide it

b. Those who are embarrassed or who think they might be bullied for being poor.

If anyone abuses the system by taking them all at once or using them to block all of the bogs, the headteacher could deliver a stern rebuke to all pupils. I remember a lecture in our school assembly about our "overuse of toilet tissue"... I have no idea who was doing what with them or why, but we were only told off once, so I doubt it happened twice.

[GherkinSnatch]

drspouse agreed - my moon cup cost £20 from Boots, and £3.50 bus fare into town and back. I've recouped the cost in the 8 months I've had it by not having to buy tampons and pads, but I still needed £25 on the day. That's very easily a lot of money for a lot of people.

[foxychox]

I thought I had already signed this but hadn't. Thank you for reminding me and thank you for taking a stand, we need people like you OP!

[confusedat23]

I think it would also be nice to highlight the long term hormonal contraception which stops the monthly flow also. Of course you cannot force these young women to have contraception but if you could remove the cost of any sanitary product from their lives as well as reducing the amount of teen pregnancies it would be a bonus all round?

I know if there had been something to stop my periods as a teen I would have had it straight away.

[FreeNiki]

and those of you who have no money for essentials on here seem to have internet access constantly but a pack of pads is too much.

[GherkinSnatch]

FreeNiki

Except that doesn't help children whose parents aren't able to provide them. Can you use, for example, a Post Office card for online shopping? If the parent won't buy them that way or doesn't see the issue, will the child have access to 1) a bank account and 2) a bank card which can be used online?

[BahHumbygge]

I think the very basic ones used to be 15p in Sainsburys, but last time I checked when this topic came up a few weeks ago they were around 30p... Just checked Morrisons, and they only cheap ones they have are standard own brand around 70p. otherwise I'm completely out of touch what they cost these days as I have a mooncup.

[DJBaggySmalls]

FreeNiki, HildaOg et al How can you not know that poor people dont have a debit card? They dont have broadband either. Get off your high horse, you dont know what you're talking about.

[LuluLovesFruitcakes]

Ha some people are just so funny 🙄

[Beyondworried]

It's not poverty, it's parental neglect
Oh FFS......Beyond ignorant.

[Cocklodger]

Yes I have internet I also now have a 6 figure income, my experience of poverty (a time where I had no internet and had to sell my Nokia brick to buy electric) is still just as valid FreeNiki

[Lancelottie]

FreeNiki - the people on here are discussing how to help people NOT currently on here.

Well worth mentioning the availability of free postage from Superdrug, yes, as that might be genuinely useful to anyone who can afford the 79p but not the postage.

No need to call people 'bleaters' for not already knowing about it, though.

[Beyondworried]

What do you propose if there is more than one menstruating female in a household Free?

[MacarenaFerreiro]

I'm really struggling with this. I know that Benefits aren't a fortune, and that there are lots of people on minimum hours contracts but Benefits or wages plus Benefits as a top up provide enough for a basic standard of living, including sanitary protection.

If there is a back story to the individual family like debt, or being sanctioned, or other factors which mean they aren't coping, then THAT is what should be addressed, not dishing out freebies without tackling the root problem and putting the family back in the situation of being able to support themselves.

I am not a fan at all of giving free this, that and the next thing and don't think it's where additional support should be targeted at all. So I won't be signing.

[migrating]

well yes, it is parental neglect, but sadly not all parents prioritise their children. It doesn't help the girls, does it.

[libbyliz83]

My mum was poor when I was growing up. Several times I had days where I could only change my towel twice a day as she couldn't find £1 to buy me a new pack. Very unhygienic and I'm sure people must have smelt it. I also used to wear tight cycle shorts under my school trousers and 'clench' to try and reduce flow when sitting. On a night I would lie on my back and trained myself not to roll over/change position again to reduce flow.
So yes, people really are that poor.

[SparklyUnicornPoo]

The school I went to had quite a few of us that couldn't afford sanitary products (myself included) one of my teachers managed to get one of the companies, I think it was lil-lets, to come in and give a talk and they gave us packs of free samples, including some that the teacher kept in the office for if we 'forgot' to bring any to school. It was all very carefully worded to make sure we understood no one was accusing anyone of not being able to afford them. The food tech teacher even used to leave a box in the food block loos so people could help themselves without having to ask (I think he used to pay for those out his own money though bless him, he kept deodorant in the loos too and he gave me my pencil case for exams, and some hairbands and quite often some fruit and biscuits, he made my parents apply for FSM too and a bus pass, he even bought my friend some washing powder once.)

[Pepperer]

Putting on my helmet for this but surely the number of girls missing school because their parents genuinely cannot afford sanitary products are a very, very, very small minority. More often than not, I suspect the real cause to be poor financial management or neglect on their parents' part. Giving out more freebies will do nothing to solve the root of this problem.

[MinorRSole]

Wow, I struggle to see how anyone would have an issue with free sanitary products for children regardless of why they are needed.

Fwiw I had to dash out for tampons yesterday, went to the local shop where I shelled out £6 odd for one small box of tampax and a packet of pads.

My local supermarket is 12 miles away and not on a bus route. I do know families in my village who do not have their own car so yes I can see where this may be an issue. I'm grateful it isn't for me, not flush but can easily afford the basics. I shall be signing for those who can't

[TheBogQueen]

You can buy sanitary pads and tampons fur 50p in Superdrug

[MinorRSole]

To add, I don't think it's relevant if it's parental mismanagement, only affects a few or any of the other objections. I do think it should be a priority and I would would rather pay a little extra to cover the cost than see a young girl go without sanitary protection

[MinorRSole]

Very interesting bogqueen, only there is no Superdrug anywhere near me!

[miniparrot]

I'm a single mum on benefits long term and I couldn't imagine not having enough money to buy sanitary towels for my DD. We can only afford the cheapest Wilko packs but they work fine and are only 25p a pack. I use a Mooncup myself which I've had for a decade so don't spend anything on SP for me. I have 3 dc and we get over £290 a week in benefits, which isn't a fortune but it's enough to cover gas/leccy, food, bus fares, essentials like SP and toiletries. However I'd definitely welcome free SP if it were given out in schools as every little helps.