GIRLS could be missing lessons at school because they do not have enough money to buy sanitary products - as a leading councillor claims period poverty exists in Cumbria.

Councillor Anne Burns, the county's children's services boss, said headteachers across the area were concerned the issue could be affecting the education of pupils, with some teachers purchasing their own supplies to hand out to girls at primary and secondary schools.
Cumbria County Councillor Anne Burns.

Council bosses including Cllr Burns are now looking at the issue as they draw up a new strategy on how to tackle child poverty in Cumbria.

"It is an issue and it shouldn't be in this day and age," she said.

"It's something that headteachers have raised as a concern.

"It's a disgrace. No-one should be left in a situation where they have to choose between food and sanitary products."

Police records obtained by CN Group reveal there have been arrests for theft of sanitary products in the county in the last three years with officers logging incidents of shoplifting in Carlisle, Allerdale and South Lakeland.

Cllr Burns is now to bring the topic of period poverty to the attention of the Cumbria Children’s Trust Board child poverty sub group as well as the county's health and wellbeing board.

She added: "The only reason anyone would steal sanitary products is if they have no choice.

"They are not a luxury item."

But the issue of period poverty does not just affect young girls.

Foodbanks in Barrow, West Cumbria and Carlisle already hand out sanitary products with groceries.

Ann Mills, Barrow foodbank manager, said: "Sanitary products are always available here and people take what they need.

"This is something that is very much needed here."

Rachael Rodway, of the Carlisle Foodbank, agreed.

She said: "We have always offered sanitary products to women and we are very fortunate to receive funding from a local group twice a year to cover the purchase cost.

"They are a necessity, and they are needed."

At the North Lakes Foodbank, sanitary products are available to clients.

But assistant project manager Linda McDonald said the need in the community was likely to be much greater.

"We are able to meet the need that we see, but we are probably just scratching the surface.

"We tend to see clients when they are in crisis but there are also a lot of low income families who struggle day to day who will find it hard to buy everything they need."

Red Box Project

Dedicated volunteers are helping to make sure schoolgirls across Barrow and Millom have free access to sanitary products within schools.

The Red Box Project was launched by town resident Helen Wood, 44, after she heard of concerns over the issue at the town's Women's Community Matters centre.
Helen Wood

The scheme, which aims to make sure young girls can access free sanitary products within schools and colleges, is now up and running in 23 locations around the UK.

So far, 14 boxes have been distributed to schools in Barrow and Millom, with more on the way.

Mrs Wood, who works full time, hopes people in other parts of Cumbria will launch their own Red Box Project.

She said: "It's been really successful so far.

"The schools think it's fantastic. Most have an emergency supply for girls.

"But I know some teachers were buying sanitary products themselves to hand out.

"I'm really lucky in that the foodbank collect donations for us at the drop off points so I can put new boxes together and keep the ones already in schools topped up."

Each red box contains a supply of sanitary towels, tampons and underwear.

They are placed in a discreet area of the school so girls can take what they need.

All products have been donated - with the project receiving generous donations from local groups as well as Unison and Marks and Spencer to purchase additional supplies.

Mrs Wood, who is helped by volunteers Becka Baxter and Sarah Fothergill, added: "It makes such a difference.


A fully stocked Red Box. "It's a disgrace that this is something we are having to address in 2018.

"Children and teenagers are very savvy, they know if their parent is struggling financially so they won't ask for money because they don't want to put more pressure on the family.

"With the Red Box Project, they know they can just take what they need.

"I would love to see it launched in other parts of Cumbria. It will be needed elsewhere, not just here."

Period poverty

It is estimated that one in ten girls aged 14 to 21 are unable to afford sanitary products in the UK.

For some, this means missing days at school during their period.

The average cost of a packet of sanitary towels is £2 while a box of tampons costs around £2 to £3.

Last year Scotland became the first nation in the world to tackle period poverty on a larger scale with the launch of a pilot scheme in Aberdeen.

The project provides free sanitary products to women on low incomes.