A campaign to help ensure that pupils don’t miss classes through having their period has been launched in Northern Ireland for the first time.
The Red Box Project is a national network of volunteers who work together to provide free sanitary wear and spare underwear in schools across the country.
The Red Box Project has been launched in Northern Ireland by a volunteer from Bangor, Claire Best.
Claire, a 34-year-old mum of two, will donate red boxes to schools across North Down and the greater Belfast area, stocked with sanitary wear.
She hopes to expand this initiative to schools across Northern Ireland over the coming months.
Rathmore Primary School, Kilcooley Primary School and Clandeboye Primary School in the Bangor area are already on board.
The boxes are easily accessible through an appropriate member of staff and plain bags are included for discretion. Posters placed in the girls’ lavatories signpost the box, its content and location.
The campaign has already been supported by businesses including PR and events agency Clearbox, Deborah Harper Beauty, The Hair Boutique Bangor, MODA Newtownards, Conroy at Holme, Well Pharmacy Crumlin, Homebird Cafe Holywood, No Alibis Bookstore and many more.
Recent research from Plan International UK revealed that one in ten school girls have been unable to afford sanitary wear, while a further one in ten have had to improvise sanitary wear due to affordability issues.
Lack of access to sanitary wear can cause young women to miss classes in school, and that’s something Claire is passionate about helping to change through the Red Box Project.
“Period poverty is a very real crisis that’s gripping our society and it’s time that we did something about it. No girl should have to miss a class in school because she doesn’t have access to sanitary wear, and that’s exactly what the Red Box Project aims to tackle.
“We want to provide girls in schools across Northern Ireland with the opportunity to have access to free sanitary wear so they can continue with their education without worrying about their period,” explained Claire.
“However, we need the help of our community,” she added.
Claire is currently working with a number of businesses who’ve kindly donated sanitary wear and funds to purchase boxes and products. Anyone who’d like to make a donation of products of funds to the project can do so by contacting redboxprojectni@gmail.com.
Lucy Russell, UK Campaign Manager at Plan International UK, added that dealing with periods each month is proving a tough challenge – and in 21st century Britain, this shouldn’t be the case.
“But what is also clear is that this is a problem of stigma as well as affordability. Girls feel embarrassed by their periods, and that can’t be right.
“We need a society-wide approach to bust the taboo, and an education programme which addresses the shocking reality that too many girls lack the knowledge and understanding of how to manage their period, and are too afraid to ask for advice,” she added.
For further information, or to nominate a school to get involved, contact Claire Best on redboxprojectni@gmail.com/ 07791 248011.