Partnership addresses period poverty

Teesside University is working with sustainable period care brand TOTM to promote awareness of period poverty and support period dignity.

And now the University’s work with TOTM to tackle period poverty has led to award recognition, winning the Social Value category of the IWFM (Institute of Workplace and Facilities Management) Impact Awards 2024.

The partnership was developed from a research project at the University into period poverty and the detrimental impact it has on education for those who menstruate.

Vik Brown, Lifestyle Student Advisor in the University’s Student & Library Services, explained how the project was initially developed as a way of supporting period dignity by offering free sanitary products for students.

TOTM boxes, containing free tampons and pads which are made using natural and biodegradable materials to reduce waste, have been made available in toilets across the University campus.

The project has involved a collaboration of teams across the University, with Teesside being among the first universities which TOTM has worked with in this way.

The partnership aims to help anyone experiencing period poverty, when struggling to afford the menstrual products they need. Having a period creates the need to buy sanitary products and not being able to afford products can create anxiety and cause individuals to avoid going to school, work or university.

Vik said: “It has been a unique collaboration and it has been trailblazing, as our project was a part of the pilot for TOTM when launching their new period positive workplace scheme.”

Vik added: “We were keen to work with TOTM as their values echo Teesside University’s values. Their products are sustainable, creating a positive impact on the planet, which echoes the university’s work towards our own net zero goals.

“It’s been a journey and it’s been brilliant to see the project build and watch it grow. It is also giving back to future generations and empowering them as period poverty is an issue that impacts on so many people.”

Representatives from TOTM have also been involved in awareness talks for students at the University.

Hannah Cole, of TOTM, said: “It has been an absolute pleasure collaborating with Vik and the team at Teesside on such a significant project over the past three years. Witnessing its growth from the initial rollout to its current status as a fully established initiative has been truly remarkable. Their dedication to ensuring every student feels supported within the university is inspiring, and I am excited to see how this scheme continues to evolve in the future.”

Vik added: “We’ve been able to show the positive impact of our campus, and TOTM also became involved in our menstrual cup campaign, which has involved free menstrual cups offered to students across the School of Health & Life Sciences as part of a project to consider whether using a menstrual cup can be helpful in reducing the cost created by periods. The aim is to help students continue to attend campus to complete their studies.”

Vik said response about the availability of free sanitary products has been positive, adding: “We carried out a period dignity survey and the results showed that a high number of students feel their academic performance can be impacted by periods and that the availability of free products improves well-being.

“Many also said they felt it helped to improve their participation in physical activity from the gym to sporting activities, meant they were financially better off, and it is also supporting attendance. We also discovered students and staff had felt relief to find the products available, if they’re ever caught short by unexpected period start.”

Vik added: “Empowering those who menstruate is an important and powerful element of this campaign. We hope to keep growing the campaign and reaching out to other organisations to collaborate or support however we can.”

---