Wirral Council is set to call on the UK Government to provide free sanitary products for low-income families.
A notice of motion to be discussed at Wirral council’s full meeting on Monday will ask all of the borough’s parties to come together to tackle the problem of period poverty.
The motion brought to council by Cllr Moira McLaughlin and Cllr Anita Leech will highlight the hidden effects of poverty in areas of low income.
Cllr McLaughlin said: “Period poverty is a hidden poverty however it is significantly impacting on the life chances of girls in our community. Whilst initiatives like Feeding Birkenhead’s Pink Box Campaign are trying to address the issue locally, this is a widespread problem across the UK and we are calling on the Government to do more to tackle the issue.”
It comes after the Pink Box Campaign, which aims to have products available in every school, youth club and community house in Wirral, gave away dozens of boxes of sanitary products for free across Birkenhead.
The group says 40% of girls in Birkenhead can’t afford sanitary products. The campaign has all been run using social media, with people asked to give money via donation points across the town.
The motion will ask council leader Cllr Phil Davies to write to Prime Minister Theresa May to ask for the government’s support.
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