Youth campaign urges councils to fund free period products
Ipswich Period Rights has written to Ipswich Borough Council and Suffolk County Council calling for free period products in council-run public toilets. The letter has been backed by 15 local organisations and businesses.
Why it matters: The youth-led campaign, from the latest cohort of Ipswich MP Jack Abbott's Summer School, says a 2021 Suffolk County Council survey found 43% of respondents had used sanitary products not fit for purpose, or for too long, because of cost.
The details: The open letter calls on both councils to make free period products available in council-run public toilets, with provision clearly signposted and easily accessible to anyone who needs it.
The bigger picture: The campaign has pointed to East Suffolk Council's Period Poverty project as a model Ipswich could follow. That scheme provides free period products through local hubs, businesses, organisations and schools.
The letter has been signed by 15 local organisations and businesses, including:
- Another Bowl
- Ipswich JobCentre Plus
- TK Maxx Ipswich
- Cats Protection Ipswich
- Uniform Research Ipswich
- Charmed Cafe
- New Look Ipswich
- The Hidden Garden Cafe
- Cub Cafe
- PureGym Ipswich Buttermarket
- I-Scream!
- Emmaus Ipswich
- Roots Community Café
- Harvest Moon
- Superbowl UK Ipswich
What they're saying: Period Rights Ipswich said: "We believe this would be a simple but meaningful step towards improving accessibility and tackling period poverty across the town."
For context: The letter follows a campaign push highlighting where people in Ipswich can already access free period products, including at Another Bowl, Cub Cafe and Harvest Moon.
What's next: Period Rights Ipswich is encouraging both councils to respond to the open letter and commit to improving free period product provision in Ipswich.
The bottom line: Having already mapped out where free period products are available across town, the youth campaign is now pushing councils to make provision a guarantee, with 15 organisations already on board.
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