Period poverty is a real thing – during the lockdown, 30% of 14-21-year olds reported that they could not afford menstrual products. Let that sink in. Girls in the UK are not able to afford hygiene products. It is crucial that vulnerable students are not made to choose between spending their money on period-care instead of other essentials like food.
As a mum of two girls that first paragraph is upsetting, I can’t imagine how a teenager or young woman feels when they don’t have adequate menstrual products. As a teacher and someone who has worked with thousands of teenage girls, I know that period poverty is real and thankfully I have worked in schools that sought to address the problem, but I also know of teachers who spent their own money on products to be left in the school toilets to be available to our female students.
Teachers have done this because they care, however it should not be down to teachers – it needs national attention and people to speak up and make a stand about period poverty for teenage girls.
Most of us spend money on our period every single month, for around 3 and a half decades of your life. But how much will your period cost you over your lifetime? Mooncup has launched a new Monthly Savings Calculator for you to figure out how much your period costs – and how much you could save by switching to the reusable Mooncup.
For example; an average person uses 11,000 tampons and pads in their lifetime at a conservative cost of at least 15p per product (based on an average value brand). This makes the total cost of periods at least £1,650. This equates to 72 months of gym membership, 597 takeaway lattes or 2170 chocolate bars for those period cravings.
Work out how much you personally are spending on your period here…
The calculator forms part of Mooncup’s #FreePeriod Lobbying Kit aimed at getting parents and children to ensure that their school or college opts in for the free period product scheme before the deadline of 31st December 2020. This will help end period poverty.
The Monthly Savings Calculator has been launched to raise awareness of the #freeperiod initiative in UK schools and will have a positive impact on period poverty in schools.
All state schools and colleges in England have been given a budget for menstrual products yet 60% of schools have not yet signed up to the free of charge initiative launched in January 2020. The scheme is a first-ever to provide Mooncup menstrual cups free of charge, alongside disposable pads and tampons to those young people who need it most.
Kath Clements, Mooncup Ltd. Director, said; “There are lots of reasons to use a Mooncup, but we need to remember that it really saves you money – and not just now, but for years and years.
How YOU can help alleviate period poverty
- A template letter for parents & guardians requesting schools to opt into the scheme and include sustainable products to their selection
- Guidance on how to copy in your local councillor to put pressure on local governments to support schools and young people.
- A template letter for young people to formally request their school or college takes part and includes sustainable products in their product selection
- An educational presentation, video resources, information materials, a demo Mooncup and more for teachers
- Collection of #FreePeriod themed GIFs and illustrations that can be shared on social media
Why use Mooncup?
Mooncup has been empowering choice over our own bodies and periods since 2002. It is a high performance cup built for comfort and reliability, made from the highest quality materials. It is a healthier, greener and cheaper choice used by millions including elite athletes, celebrities and business leaders the world over.
Together we can make a difference and it shouldn’t be just down to those teachers in schools to address period poverty. We can collectively make a difference and make the lives of teenage girls in poverty that little bit better. No girl should be worried about missing school because they don’t have products and unfortunately that is a real issue in many secondary schools today. Right now finances are really tough for many people and this is one small way that you can make a difference so please do.
Please also read Lay period shame to rest 7 Myths
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