Larne group urgently seeking support for period poverty campaign

Larne Area Community Support Group's 'Equality Period' is raising funds for the purchase of sanitary and hygiene items, which members hope to distribute among various organisations in the town.

It comes after a UK-wide survey by Plan International found that almost of third of young people aged between 14 and 21 have struggled to either afford or access sanitary products while at home during lockdown.

Alarmingly, more than half of the respondents said they had used toilet paper as an alternative to period products.

In Larne, community support groups who have been working throughout the pandemic have noted a stark rise in demand for sanitary products, according to the group.

"Access to sanitary products, and the right to manage menstruation without shame or stigma, is essential for anyone who menstruates but for some, this is not a reality," Larne Area Community Support said.

"Period poverty is not just a potential health risk - it can also mean education, well-being, and sometimes entire lives are affected.

"Due to the coronavirus lockdown, the number of people facing period poverty has risen sharply and we want to help.

"Every penny that is donated to the #equalityPERIOD crowdfunder will be used to purchase sanitary and hygiene items, supported by Larne Pharmacy Plus stores.

"These items will be put into packs and distributed to our local charities, organisations and schools to ensure anyone who needs them has access."

With a 30-day limit on the online crowdfunding campaign, the group is urgently seeking to hit its £500 target before the end of the month.

Donations of items such as sanitary pads, tampons, maternity pads and other hygiene items are also being sought.

Suzi from Larne Area Community Support said: “We are trying to time this with the schools going back; August is a difficult time for a lot of people because of back-to-school expenses. There are a lot of people who are really struggling."

The items will be distributed to local groups including, but not limited to, Women's Aid, Larne Foodbank, Salvation Army, YMCA youth club and schools in the Larne area.

"People can also donate the products themselves. We want to be as accessible as possible for everyone but for hygiene reasons, we can't have donation boxes; if anyone would like to donate items, please get in touch and we can arrange to pick them up," Suzi added.

If you would like to help, you can donate funds here.

The group can also be contacted on Facebook.