Students’ Union collaborates with Uni to help end period poverty
Free period products are being made available across Staffordshire University campuses in Stoke, Stafford and London.
Thanks to collaborative work between Staffordshire University Students’ Union and Staffordshire University, dispensers containing tampons and sanitary towels have now been installed in all buildings.
The dispensers will be regularly stocked with organic and sustainable applicator tampons and bamboo sanitary pads for use by students and staff.
Period poverty, which is believed to affect 1 in 10 females across the UK, is something that the Students' Union has campaigned on since 2018.
Staffordshire University Students’ Union President Hannah Blackburn said: “This aims to tackle the issues of students struggling on a day-to-day basis to afford their period products, and also the stigma surrounding periods.
“We've seen a huge increase in student hardship in the past 12 months alone, with more and more students needing financial support and having to make awful choices between heating and eating.”
The Period Poverty Project involved both the Students’ Union and the University looking into how the provision of free sanitary products could be expanded, the budget needed and what sustainable companies could be used to provide the products.
Helen Rutherford, Head of Sustainable Campus Facilities Management said: “In recent years more organisations and venues have taken to providing free period products. Period poverty combined with rising costs of living have prompted us to work with our Students’ Union on the Period Poverty Project and to better support our community of staff and students.
“These products are available to anyone who needs them. In keeping with the University’s sustainability strategy, the products are eco-friendly and organic, vegan and cruelty free.”
Hannah added: “Honestly, I can't express how happy I am seeing our hard work come to fruition, and I'm proud of the difference this is going to make to the students at my university.”
Amy Platts
Media Communications Officer
t: 01782 292702
m: 07799 341911
e: amy.platts@staffs.ac.uk
Staffordshire University’s ambition is to become the UK’s best modern university. An institution with a strong civic mission, it has committed to being a ‘catalyst for change’ for students and businesses, positively impacting wider society and the regional economy.
Staffordshire University was named a Top 5 university in the UK and ranked Top 10 for job prospects in the StudentCrowd University Awards 2022 – based entirely on student reviews. It also ranked Top 10 for Social Inclusion in The Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2023.
The 2021 Research Excellence Framework (REF) classed 68% of the University’s research as world leading or internationally excellent and 87% of its ‘research impact’ was judged to be outstanding or very outstanding.
Substantial investment in innovative technologies and teaching environments ensure next generation courses and education are delivered across all three campuses in Stoke-on-Trent, Stafford and London.
