East Suffolk Council

East Suffolk Period Poverty

Period poverty means not being able to access sanitary products, usually due to financial costs.

Period poverty can occur for many reasons, such feeling guilty about asking for sanitary products and the cost of people buying the products themselves. However, financial constraints are not the only reason this is happening. Living arrangements, family dynamics and embarrassment all contribute to the stigma behind it.

Menstruation is still a taboo subject in some households too, making asking for help more difficult. Being able to use items such as tampons and pads is a necessity. Without these items, women and girls can feel embarrassed, physically uncomfortable and may avoid leaving their homes whilst menstruating.

East Suffolk Council is committed to helping end period poverty and the stigma attached to it, working with existing schemes such as Free Period in Waveney and Pride and period in Suffolk Libraries.

Councillors have joined together and donated over £18,200 from their Enabling Communities Budgets to support the scheme. We are asking local businesses, clubs and organisations to get involved by holding boxes, known as ‘PP Boxes’, containing a range of pads and tampons in different sizes for their local community.

Click on ‘Local Initiatives’ for more information about the Period Poverty schemes in East Suffolk.