If you're new to Period Friendly Places, welcome!
We’re Period Friendly Places, a small local charity with the mission to eradicate period poverty in Bristol. We want Bristol to be a city of period dignity, in which nobody is held back in life or stigmatised against simply for having a period.
What is period poverty?
Period poverty is a lack of access to period products, education, hygiene facilities, or a combination of these, for reasons of cost.
Is it a problem in Bristol?
This is a hugely important issue locally and nationwide, one that disproportionately impacts disadvantaged girls and women, and the situation has worsened with the ongoing cost of living crisis:
· According to a 2023 survey, around one in five people in the UK struggle to afford period products. This is even higher in Bristol which has the third highest rate of period poverty across England, Scotland and Wales - more than two in five people in Bristol (41.2%)
· 40% of Bristol students have missed school at some point due to difficulties accessing period products.
· Of those affected by period poverty, 41% overused sanitary pads or tampons. This presents significant hygiene and health risks.
What we’re doing about it
We’ve set up a distribution network across Bristol, to make period products available for
free in community venues (including libraries, health and community centres, youth clubs, places of worship and food banks) for people who need them most.
We’re currently in 27 community venues and have a growing waiting list to help more people in need.
We're also combatting outdated societal attitudes to menstruation and tackling period stigma through education.
Could you be part of the solution to help eradicate period poverty in Bristol?
As a small charity we’re always in need of your help – we need volunteers and support from corporate partners to help with our mission.
If you’d like to help, please get in touch! Email us at periodfriendlyplaces@gmail.com
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