The Red Box Project North East Somerset will be able to expand on its local work, having been awarded £500 by the recent Big Local Dragon’s Den to provide free menstrual products to all school-aged children in Radstock and Westfield.

The Red Box Project North East Somerset was founded in June 2018, as the local branch of a national initiative to provide school-aged children free and unlimited access to menstrual products.

Since launching, the Project has placed boxes at local secondary schools and with the School Nurses who support the schools. The boxes are filled with full packets of sanitary pads and tampons, tights, pants and wipes, as well as ‘grab bags’ of loose products for emergencies. The products have been donated by the local community, mostly via a donation point at The Green Shop in Midsomer Norton. The Girl Guide group in Paulton also collected a box full of products as part of their activities for their Period Poverty badge.

Following Government announcements over the last month, menstrual products will be provided to schools from Easter 2020. In the meantime, the Red Box Project wants to ensure that there are boxes in every school in the local area, so that no girl is prevented from accessing her right to education – whether that be because of financial constraints or feeling embarrassed or uncomfortable.

Jen Hird, the local coordinator, attended the recent Dragon’s Den to pitch for £500 from Big Local to help support the project. She explains: “We were thrilled to be granted the £500 from Big Local; these funds mean we will be able to provide the five primary schools in Radstock and Westfield, and Fosseway School with a box to support young girls.

“It will also enable us to maintain the box at Writhlington, especially in the run-up to the long summer holidays when some girls might need to take products to last them the holiday.”

“We have been very fortunate to receive product donations from members of our local community, which will also enable us to place boxes in the Midsomer Norton schools and those in surrounding villages.”

To enable the boxes to stay stocked, sanitary product donations are welcome and can be dropped off at the Green Shop, Midsomer Norton.