#EndPeriodPoverty updates!

From Naomi Carter, VP Welfare and Campaigns

I’m so excited to be leading on the SU #EndPeriodPoverty campaign this year! I relaunched it in my second year and have seen it grow so positively under Enaya (our current President) when she was the previous VP Welfare and Campaigns! Yet there is still so much more to work on…

You Said, We Did

Each year, we run a small survey to gather feedback on the campaign. From last year, I’m happy to say that we have responded to some of your suggestions, and are working on more improvements:

• You said: “sometimes there are never enough period products in the boxes”, “by the afternoon, all the products have been taken” → We did: We have added a link on our website to report locations if they are empty! You can access this form via the QR code on the boxes in bathrooms.
• You said: “It would be useful to know what material they're made from!” → We did: We have added some information about our amazing supplier Here We Flo to our website! All their products are organic and biodegradable, plus they are a period-positive B-Corporation!
• You said: “It would be good to link with other departments who are providing free period products separately” → We did: We are reaching out to different departments that supply free period products (including Physics, Engineering, Warwick Medical School and GSD) to see how we can support one another and launch a comprehensive campaign for more University funding!

• You said: “I would prefer more substantial dispensers for sustainability and hygiene” → We did: We are currently waiting on University funding to pilot free-vend dispensers in SU buildings (SUHQ and the Atrium). We are also campaigning for this to be rolled out on a wider scale by the end of the academic year.

• You said: “Can we get more reusable options available?” → We did: We are currently in the process of investigating what sustainable and reusable options we can offer, subject to funding constraints. In the meantime, we have a limited number of reusable menstrual cups you can request from our website!

Future Directions

We recognise that there is a lot more we can do to advance menstrual equity on campus! This includes expanding locations (especially to STEM departments), stocking products throughout the Undergraduate holidays so that postgraduate students can still access them, and ensuring there are always products in accessible and gender neutral bathrooms.

If you have more suggestions, please get in touch or join our group of #EndPeriodPoverty ambassadors!