Period Poverty - what it is, and why it matters to Citizens Advice Stevenage.

Citizens Advice Stevenage is conducting a survey on period poverty within Stevenage to see how our community is affected.

With high cost-of-living expenses, people prioritise basic necessities like food and energy, instead of safe and hygienic period products. Although this may not be a shocking revelation, period poverty is a real problem that affects women, girls and people with periods  worldwide, even in wealthy countries.

Period poverty is defined as the lack of access to menstrual products, as well as the lack of safe and hygienic spaces to use them. It also includes the right for people to be able to manage menstruation without shame or stigma. Most of the UK is fortunate enough to have access to free and discounted products, but that does not mean the public and organisations are aware of the resources available to them.

To help with this ongoing issue, Citizens Advice Stevenage wants to create more awareness, availability, and accessibility to free and discounted period products – especially at schools, GPs, and food banks. We aim to survey these public services as well as the Stevenage community to find out if they are struggling to afford period products, are they accessing the resources available to them, and do they know that these resources exist and how to use them. Raising awareness could help Stevenage and neighbouring communities have one less monthly cost.

At the end of our research, we hope to increase visibility of the resources available to Stevenage through signposting, e.g. via social media. The goal is to also advise local communities about the accessibility to free products in spaces such as schools, GP offices, and food banks. This will be achieved by connecting them with available resources.

This research project is being carried out by Cameron Selfridge, who is part of the Research and Campaigns team at Citizens Advice. If you have any questions, or would like to discuss this research project further, you can contact her on Cameron.Selfridge@castevenage.org.uk.

To take part in our survey, please click this link: Period Poverty in Stevenage - public – Fill out form

If you need help or advice on the above, or a range of other topics please do not hesiate to reach out to Citizens Advice Stevenage.

T: 0800 144 8848 

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Complete an online referral form here: https://www.castevenage.org.uk/get-advice