School gets frank to end period poverty

GIRLS at an east Leeds school where period poverty has seen children miss lessons because they cannot afford sanitary products were given an 'inspiring' talk by a Youtuber to encourage them to talk more openly about menstruation.
By The Newsroom
Published 18th Apr 2018, 14:19 BST
Updated 19th Apr 2018, 13:11 BST
YouTuber Hannah Witton is pictured with girls at The Co-Operative School, Leeds, talking about sanitary pads, which Asda have donated over 3000 to the school. Picture by Simon HulmeYouTuber Hannah Witton is pictured with girls at The Co-Operative School, Leeds, talking about sanitary pads, which Asda have donated over 3000 to the school. Picture by Simon Hulme
YouTuber Hannah Witton is pictured with girls at The Co-Operative School, Leeds, talking about sanitary pads, which Asda have donated over 3000 to the school. Picture by Simon Hulme

Sanitary pad makers Always teamed up with ASDA to donate 11,000 pads to The Co-operative Academy Leeds as part of its campaign to donate 5m pads to schools to ensure no girl’s education has to suffer.

Research by the company released last month showed that more than 137,000 school girls have missed up to five days of school in the past year. While the issue was covered widely, it seems it was no shock to parents in Leeds - with 39 per cent of parents saying they were already aware of period poverty, with 14 per cent saying they had struggled to afford sanitary products for their daughter. The academy was chosen to receive a donation due to the high volume of pupils receiving free school meals.

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YouTuber and author Hannah Witton, who gave a “myth-busting” talk to 60 girls at the school today said: “It’s shocking that girls in our country are going without having their basic needs met because they can’t afford sanitary wear, and even worse that they are missing school because of it.”

YouTuber Hannah Witton is pictured with girls at The Co-Operative School, Leeds, talking about sanitary pads, which Asda have donated over 3000 to the school...18th April 2018 ..Picture by Simon HulmeYouTuber Hannah Witton is pictured with girls at The Co-Operative School, Leeds, talking about sanitary pads, which Asda have donated over 3000 to the school...18th April 2018 ..Picture by Simon Hulme
YouTuber Hannah Witton is pictured with girls at The Co-Operative School, Leeds, talking about sanitary pads, which Asda have donated over 3000 to the school...18th April 2018 ..Picture by Simon Hulme

The academy’s social, culture and ethos leader, Harinder Kaur, said: “We live in a deprived area and we know that there are girls in this school that are suffering from period poverty. Having the session was great because I don’t think girls have enough confidence to be open about the issue.”

Guila, 15, said the talk was “inspiring”. “Because of the way our society is, it’s really embarrassing to talk about sex, puberty and periods - it really encouraged girls to be open.”

Related topics:LeedsASDA