News / Bristol
Campaign to tackle period poverty in Bristol
A Bristol-based social enterprise has launched a campaign to break the stigma surrounding periods and offer a vital lifeline for women who are homeless or living in poverty.
No More Taboo wants to change the tough reality females in some of the city’s most vulnerable communities face every month with a unique crowdfunding bid to support those who cannot afford basic sanitary products.
The not-for-profit group hopes to raise £8,000 to launch Monthly Hugs subscription boxes which are designed to offer a little happiness and comfort to women on their period, with ethical, sustainable goodies, choices of reusable menstrual cups or pads and information.
The profits will be poured into tackling period poverty and No More Taboo hopes to get £4,000 of match funding from Better Bristol which was launched to support and promote the activities of organisations in the city with a passion for positive change.
“One out of five people in the South West are living in poverty, if you are struggling to put food on the table you are unlikely to be able to afford essentials like pads or tampons,” said No More Taboo founder Chloe Tingle.
“In Bristol, we have the highest number of rough sleepers outside London and a housing crisis which only seems to be getting worse. The stigma and taboo around the topic of periods means people are scared to ask for help. We need our whole community’s attitudes to periods to change.”
Erin suffers painful, heavy periods every month and has nowhere to go but a park bench.
Erin is 37 and is staying at a night shelter in Bristol. She has endometriosis and therefore has really painful, heavy periods, but with nowhere to go during the day she has no choice but to sit around on benches and rely on the toilets in cafés to manage her period.
Kiran has to use a food bank and can’t afford to buy sanitary products every month.
Mum-of-three Kiran, 28, is working three jobs on minimum wage in order to pay for the rent, bills and essential items for herself and her children.
Her landlord just put her rent up, making it impossible for her to cover all the costs and she has had to resort to using a food bank, but is too embarrassed to ask for sanitary products.
The crowdfunding campaign will run throughout June and aims to provide vital support to women who are forced to suffer pain, embarrassment and discomfort each month, as well as the health risks in using items such as clothes or toilet paper due to lack of sanitary products.
Subscribers to Monthly Hugs will also be able to find out more about sustainable periods and try out different sanitary products as they wish, including menstrual cups or washable pads, in a bid to tackle the waste and environmental harm caused by disposable items.
No More Taboo is hosting a launch event on Tuesday, June 13 for Monthly Hugs where attendees can meet the team over a glass of wine and live acoustic music, as well as being one of the first to get their hands on a box. Tickets are available online.
Read more: Crowdfunding campaign launches to help green business blossom
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