Pupils and teachers have joined forces at a Macclesfield school to raise awareness for period poverty.

The Women's Group at Tytherington School have run their first successful charity campaign to both raise awareness of the issue of period poverty in the UK and make a difference in the local community.

The students - who meet together on Friday lunchtimes to discuss women's issues - have recently been exploring the issue of period poverty.

They were shocked to learn that one in ten girls in the UK cannot afford period products and that 49% of girls had missed a day of school due to their period, according to a recent study by Plan International.

A collection was organised to encourage staff, students and families to bring in donations of period products and other essential toiletries. The Women's Group promoted the initiative around school by talking to form groups over a two-week period about why the items were needed and how they would help.

The group were particularly keen to break down the stigma around period products by getting students to talk about pads and tampons, and not be shy about purchasing these or bringing them into school!

Their hard work has really paid off, with an overwhelmingly positive response and a huge amount donated. These donations have been collected by the Silklife Foodbank so that they can be distributed to those in need in the Macclesfield area.

Eve Lancaster (Year 11) said: "Many of us hadn't recognised that really it is a privilege to be able to not just have period products when we need them, but to actually have a full box of pads or tampons- something that clearly many in our community are not able to access.

"The fact that our donations will have to be separated into the very minimum that someone can manage with that month is really shocking and shows the depth of the problem with period poverty."

Miss Wallett, who runs the Women's Group, said: 'It has been amazing (but not surprising) to see how generous the school community have been. I'm so incredibly proud of how hard the Women's Group have worked on this campaign.

"I'm sure the donations will make a huge difference to those in need in the local area.'

Scotland made period products free in November 2020, however, England have not followed suit.

As a result, the donations to the Macclesfield good cause of Silklife Foodbank have been greatly appreciated.

In a statement, a Silklife Foodbank spokesperson said: "Well done to everyone involved in the Tytherington School Women's Group. Thank you for your help."

"Anyone facing period poverty should not suffer alone and please know that the Silklife Foodbank is a place where you can discretely call by and ask for support in this area.

"Our opening hours are Tuesday and Friday 9:30am - 11:30am. Well done students."

Silklife Foodbank is located on George Street, and is a registered charity in Macclesfield.

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