Eradicating period poverty in Bristol

Helen Godwin said period poverty is a matter of dignity at an event to celebrate the launch of Period-Friendly Bristol

Labour’s cabinet member for women, children and families also noted that in just one year since she led a pledge to tackle the issue, the city has gone on to become a leading light on the matter.

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Around 140,000 girls and young women in the UK have missed school in the last year because they can’t afford to buy sanitary products.

The issue affects one in ten females aged 14-21 – particularly those who are in receipt of free school meals – and many more are forced to improvise with items such as socks, tissues, napkins or newspaper each month.

In November 2018, Bristol made a pledged to eradicate period poverty by providing free sanitary products throughout the city and to tackle period stigma.

Addressing period poverty was named a key priority in the One City Plan, launched in January.

A breakfast launch at the M Shed on Wednesday, December 18 took place to celebrate what has been done since in 2019, as well as outline future action.

It saw the launch of a pilot website featuring an interactive map of Bristol – the first of its kind – showing a network of locations across the city where people can access free period products as well as donate them.

The new web app is the result of a two-day hackathon run by Open Data Bristol and facilitated by Ajara Pfannenschmidt and John Kellas, with the backing of Marius Jennings of Open Data.

Out of the event, a core tech team of web professionals was formed and all involved dedicated their free time over to develop the app as an example of a community-driven ‘tech for good approach’.

The creators of the app believe it has the potential to grow and flourish as a website in cities other than Bristol.

The celebration took place at the M Shed. Photo by Chloe Daly

Bristol mayor Marvin Rees attended the celebration to reflect on Period-Friendly Bristol’s achievements during 2019.

The Period-Friendly Bristol team been working hard to promote their work and their message concerning the issue.

One of their initiatives was to commission writers to provide a new and improved training programme for use in schools; the ambassadors wanted to create an education program that would cater to all needs and inform both males and females of the difficulties associated periods. Currently, this programme has been set up in 40 schools in Bristol – and this number is set to expand in February.

Additionally, members of Bristol Youth Council created a video that illustrates the brevity of the problem.

Corporate partners, including Hargreaves Lansdown, are also getting involved in the project and investing in it.

Danny Cox, of Hargreaves Lansdown, spoke of his involvement in the project stating that he, as a father of two daughters, recognises the need for action and is encouraging both public and private sectors to come together in the involvement of the project. Cox said he wished to see the initiative go further than just Bristol.

Bristol is leading the way in highlighting the issue of period poverty

Photos by Chloe Daly. Main photo of councillor Helen Godwin, cabinet lead for women, children and families and Annabel Smith from the Bristol City Office, co-founders of Period Friendly Bristol

Read more: Bristol pledges to tackle period poverty