Tuesday 28-11-2017 - 12:57

Edge Hill SU Emergency Menstruation Station - Let's END #PeriodPoverty

Hi! I’m Rosie McKenna, the Vice President Welfare in your Students’ Union, and I’m here to tell you all about our #PeriodPoverty campaign!

Let’s be blunt Edge Hill – the tampon tax is a bloody mess.

The ‘tampon tax’ is the 5% tax applied to sanitary items, due to them being categorised as a luxury by the European Economic Community. There have been on-going campaigns, both nationally and internationally, to re-categorise sanitary items. These products are not a luxury, they are a necessity.

Our Women’s Officer Molly Smallwood said:

"People who get periods are subjected to the tampon tax, and as students we know how tight money can get so this campaign is desperately needed!"

We began tackling period poverty by selling sanitary products tax-free in our new SU Shop this year, absorbing the 5% additional costs to give you cheaper periods. We then gave out free sanitary pads during our Welcome fair. Now, it’s time to go one step further. Edge Hill SU believes every student should have free access to sanitary products regardless of their financial situation, without question, and without shame.

So, we’re launching our emergency menstruation station, for any student who is on their period to use. If you’re in a bind, don’t have the money to buy a pad, or have just come on suddenly, we’re here for you with free sanitary products.

Having the station will allow for students who may feel shame in buying sanitary products in a shop to access them on campus. Edge Hill SU Trans and Non-Binary Officer, Bex Kinley, said:

“It's important for everyone to have access to sanitary products, because there are members of the Trans and Non-Binary community who use male bathrooms whilst on their periods, and having sanitary products available to them will stop them using unhygienic methods.”

The price of sanitary items is not just sexist, it’s classist. People with periods from low income backgrounds are hit the hardest each month, and we want to break this cycle for our students.

Our emergency Menstruation Station is located in the SU Shop, next to SUBWAY (in the SU Building opposite the HUB if you don't know where we are!). If you need them, they’re here for you.