A group of Sheffield Hallam University students are raising funds of Roundabout Homeless Charity, as part of their campaign to raise awareness of period poverty.
Mental health nursing students have already smashed their £100 GoFundMe target, raising £420 in three days.
Daisy Drakeford, 21, who is leading the fundraiser, said: “One in 10 females or people with female organs can’t afford them (sanitary products). So they have to improvise with other sanitary wear, which a lot of the time is a sock or tissue paper, which isn’t very sanitary.
Period poverty is a critical issue facing women nationally and internationally. A 2018 report from Plan International UK found that 1 in 7 girls have had to borrow sanitary wear from a friend due to affordability issues.
“We’ve spoken to Roundabout and they’ve essentially told us that since COVID they’ve been getting a massive influx of young girls coming into their services. So they’re in desperate need of sanitary products.
“You’re not going to just sit around with blood in your pants. It’s horrible. People do that. But that’s only because it’s so expensive.”
A 2019 report from Bloody Good Period found that women in the UK spend an estimated £4800 on periods during their lifetime.
The Plan International UK also found that 1 in 5 women have changed to a less suitable sanitary product due to the cost.
Roundabout commented on Daisy and her team’s efforts: “Period poverty is a big problem, especially for the young people who use our services who are disproportionately affected.
“As such, we are delighted to be able to support Daisy and her group’s fundraising efforts to help raise awareness and vital funds for those we support in our services and alleviate the problem of period poverty and the stigma surrounding it.”
Donations can be made through Daisy’s GoFundMe page.
