Period Dignity
Working with our Active Ambassadors we developed the 'It won't stop us' Campaign.
Within Grŵp Llandrillo Menai, we provide the opportunity for learners to access free products in order to overcome these barriers, but recognise that we can do more to tackle the educational aspects of period poverty.
We launched the ‘Period Dignity Campaign’ to remove what is an unnecessary obstruction to education and to promote how learners can manage their periods with confidence, break down menstrual taboos and normalise conversations about periods, so that they no longer feel ashamed or embarrassed to ask for help.
Working with our Active Ambassadors we developed the 'It won't stop us' Campaign.
FREE Period Products for Learners - Home Delivery!
We also have FREE period products and spare clothing on every site
As part of our commitment to supporting wellbeing, learners have access to a range of FREE period products and spare clothing at all college sites.
Free period products delivered to your home
If you are a further education learner you can get FREE period products, delivered directly to your home. You will get enough supplies for at least 4 months as well as some reusable products!
There is a choice of ECO-FRIENDLY single use products: pads and/or tampons; AND reusable products: pads, period pants or menstrual cups.
https://www.heygirls.co.uk/gllm-home-packs-page/
FREE period products & spare clothing - IN COLLEGE
Anyone can pop along to Learner Services on ANY college site to get:
- Pads and tampons
- Period pants
- Period cups
- Knickers
- Tights
- Leggings
- Bags
This programme has been developed with Welsh Government funding to promote period dignity across Wales.
'Period Poverty' is becoming a growing concern. A survey by the charity Plan International found that 1 in 10 girls aged 14-21 can't afford menstrual products, 12% have had to improvise or do with makeshift menstrual products due to affordability issues, 49% of girls have missed at least one full day of school/college due to their period and 68% said they were unable to pay attention in class.
In February 2019, prior to COVID-19 lockdown and government restrictions, we filmed and interviewed a range of athletes from across North Wales to share their experience of managing their menstruation, whilst continuing to train.
As part of this campaign, we want to promote the importance of maintaining physical activity to highlight the benefits upon reducing the symptoms of menstruation and that periods should not act as a barrier to engaging in either learning or active wellbeing.
Alongside this we have developed free complimentary exercise resources which learners can do at home.
Exercise Resources
Listening to our learners, they identified not only accessing products was a barrier but also managing pain and discomfort.
Working with a personal trainer and former GLLM learner, a range of twelve short exercise techniques have been developed to help with this.
There is an exercise for each month, which can help to alleviate some of the discomfort. You can try these at home, outside, with friends or on your own - which ever works best for you.
Try the resources & tag @GLLMLles #GLLMWellbeing. Use the 'It won't stop us' GIF on Instagram.