Today on World Menstrual Hygiene Day (May 28th), startling statistics have come to light about the potential scale of period poverty experienced by young Londoners. The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, called for the Government to stamp out the problem as it affects how they engage in education, sport or community life.

Period Poverty, in this case, means not being able to afford appropriate mensural products every month, it is believed that the shame and stigma attached to periods are only making the issue worse with girls reluctant to ask for help with many resorting to using inappropriate protection.

City Hall has carried out research that shows 17 percent of women aged 16 – 24 say that they have struggled to afford or been unable to afford sanitary wear, furthermore 30 percent of young women say they have had to switch to using less suitable sanitary wear due to cost. In other research by Plan International, we are told that 49 percent of girls in the UK have missed an entire day of school because of their period and 64 percent of girls have missed a PE or sport because of their period

The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, said: “It is hard to believe that young women and girls in the capital are experiencing this type of poverty. Not being able to afford the products that they need is putting their health at risk and preventing them from fully engaging in their education. I am calling on the Government to take urgent action and end period poverty.”

As City Halls research does not include children under 16 years old it is hard to say the full extent of the problem for younger girls, however, Sadiq Khan will be working with The Red Box Project to support girls at risk of experiencing period poverty in schools. The Red Box Project stocks schools with sanitary items donated through red collection boxes in local businesses and organisations that have signed up to the scheme.

Becky Lopez, South East London Coordinator, The Red Box Project, said: “Period poverty is a hidden problem in London, but such an important one. Without adequate menstrual products, girls can miss weeks of school a year, or face embarrassing situations that can damage their education, self-confidence and health. Young women deserve better.”

This is another example of how schools are increasingly having to fill a gap that the government has created and help their students dealing with the effects of poverty, and City Hall is trying to find a way to support schools in this endeavour.