Carrickfergus Equality Period group seeking donations of sanitary products for primary schools

A Carrickfergus group is seeking continued donations of period products for primary school pupils in the area.
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Equality Period was set up to generate funds for the purchase of sanitary and hygiene items.

The group was previously behind a campaign in the Larne area which saw hundreds raised for the essential products.

Writing on their Facebook page, the group said: "We have been contacted by teaching staff on behalf of primary schools [in the Carrickfergus area] asking for period products for their students.

The group was previously behind a campaign in the Larne area which saw hundreds raised for the essential products.The group was previously behind a campaign in the Larne area which saw hundreds raised for the essential products.
The group was previously behind a campaign in the Larne area which saw hundreds raised for the essential products.

"We believe that the first step towards ending menstrual stigma is ensuring those first period experiences are comfortable, confident ones.

"Providing free period products in schools protects student health and well-being and it ensures that no child has their education disrupted because of their period.

"With more families facing financial hardship in the wake of Covid-19, it's more important than ever that our students have free access to these essential healthcare items through their school.

"Our primary school boxes are a one-off donation. The scale of this project in the Larne and Carrick areas alone is huge and it's one that should be the responsibility of Department of Education NI, not the public."

The project has already seen a "fantastic" response from local people in the area, according to the group.

Equality Period has called on Education Minister, Peter Weir MLA, to "afford our students period equality in line with the rest of the UK".

"Primary and post-primary students in England, Scotland and Wales have access to free period products under fully-funded government schemes," the group added.

"Northern Ireland's students do not."