Period Poverty is increasing in the UK with more than 350,000 girls admitting to missing days off school due to their period. Credit: Annika Gordon via Unsplash
“If we had a government that addressed the cost of living… people would have enough to buy period products.”
That’s the view of Ruth Cadbury, Labour MP for Brentford & Isleworth and prominent campaigner for those facing period poverty.
Cadbury was instrumental in the introduction of the free period products in schools scheme and has continued to press for access for free period products for all, alongside encouraging open discussion about periods.
Period poverty occurs when people cannot access period products simply due to the cost of them.
Charmaine Binns-Muhammad, from The Hygiene Bank, says the charity have seen a unanimous increase in demand since the cost of living crisis began.
As the crisis continues, demand is set to rise.
The schools scheme was a start, says Cadbury, but the government could be doing much more to address the problems.
Watch the video below to see more.