PERIOD poverty boxes are available at Melksham library in a pilot project to help anyone who may be struggling to access menstrual products.
Period poverty is when someone has a lack of access to safe and hygienic menstrual products during monthly periods.
“We are committed to empowering residents in Wiltshire to live full and healthy lives,” says cllr Ian Blair-Pilling, Wiltshire Council’s cabinet member for public health and libraries.
“Period poverty is an issue that can cause worry and anxiety and lead to women and girls missing work or school as a result.
“We are working with the charity All Yours and running a pilot project in six of our libraries to distribute discreet packs of period products for anyone in need. As well as Melksham, they can be picked up from Bradford-on-Avon, Calne, Corsham, Royal Wootton Bassett or Warminster libraries.
“There are two types of pack available for lighter or heavier flow and individuals can also contact the charity All Yours directly about receiving a box tailored to specific needs including re-usable products such as Moon-cups. The charity accepts donations of period products across the South West region and Bradford-on-Avon library is a collection point with an All Yours donation box in the foyer.”
In 2021, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak axed VAT on period projects declaring them no long a ‘luxury non-essential’ project; more recently, it was found that more than 61,000 period packs were given out in the first half of last year, following research by the charity, Bloody Good Period.
All Yours can be contacted at www.allyoursbox.co.uk
