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Prescot Red Box Project Aims to End ‘Period Poverty’ in Schools
A Prescot couple are on a mission to end period poverty in local schools.
Clare and Karl Duvall have set up a local branch of the Red Box Project, an initiative that places constantly stocked boxes of sanitary wear in schools, where girls can obtain free sanitary products, such as towels and tampons, when they need them.
The charity “quietly ensures that no young woman misses out on her education because of her period.” It is nationwide but depends on local volunteers to set up the project in each area.
The Red Box Project Prescot set up its first Red Box, where girls can take away what they need in a plain paper bag, in the Prescot School on 3 September. Within 10 days, the Duvalls had established seven donation points and received a £100 donation from Home Bargains.
As of publication, they are in another three local primary and secondary schools. Clare told Prescot Online that “girls are already saying it’s changed their lives not having to worry about buying them.”
She continued: “We’ve had an overwhelming response from the community and fantastic feedback from schools.”
One pupil commented that the project “makes us feel as if someone is looking after us,” and another said it “gives us so much dignity.”
What is period poverty?
Period poverty is when women can’t access or can’t afford to buy sanitary products.
The cost of items may be as little as just a few pounds a month.
When finances are stretched at the time of need, however, some girls still in education can find themselves having to choose between basics such as food, the bus journey home and a box of tampons.
Knock-on effects of period poverty can include anxiety, social embarrassment and missing school.
The Red Box Project aims to help disadvantaged girls and ensure they don’t miss out on education or quality of life because they can’t access sanitary wear.
How you can donate to the Red Box Project Prescot
You can buy and donate any of the following items:
- Sanitary towels
- Tampons
- Panty liners
- New knickers (for spares, ages 9-13, sizes 6-18)
- Moist, flushable toilet wipes
- Small, roll-on deodorants
- New flannels
- Small bodywashes
You can leave your donations at any of the following drop-off points in and around Prescot:
- Jessie & Co, Leyland Street
- The Albion Bakehouse, Leyland Street
- VIP Laundry, Greene Road, Whiston
- Eaton Street Park Pavilion (pictured, with volunteers)
- Prescot Town Hall, Warrington Road
- Tesco Extra, Cables Retail Park
- Prescot Primary School, Maryville Road
- Knowsley Resource & Recovery Mental Health Service, Whiston Hospital
- Mrs Danvers Cafe, Pier Head, Liverpool
- Lindsey’s Luscious Melts
- Claire (in Eccleston Park, email mrsclairebuck@gmail.com)
You can also donate money via the Red Box Project Prescot JustGiving page.
How to get sanitary products
Red boxes are now in the following locations, and there are plans to extend to every school in Prescot and Whiston:
- The Prescot School
- St Edmund Arrowsmith
- Prescot Primary School
- Halsnead Community Primary School
Plans are also being made to start a Rainhill Red Box Project.
Find out more
If you think you’d benefit from the Red Box Project or can help by donating, follow @RedPrescot on Twitter or find The Red Box Project – Prescot on Facebook.
Learn more about the nationwide charity at The Red Box Project.
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