Tue 23rd July 2024 @ 04:05 AM
GOALS BLACK COUNTRY DOING THEIR BIT TO COMBAT PERIOD POVERTY
Period poverty is defined as a lack of access to menstrual products, hygiene facilities, waste management, and education which can in-turn also lead to loneliness all due to financial restraints. This impacts females who menstruate all over the world. Everyone has the right to access menstrual products and the right to talk about menstruation without shame or stigma.
During the Covid-19 Pandemic, period poverty increased for many across the UK as people found their household income falling because of the pressures the pandemic and subsequent lockdowns put on them and their families. Research from Plan International UK revealed that during the pandemic 30% of women struggled to afford or access period products; additionally, a third of those surveyed felt too embarrassed to seek out a source of free products and two fifths said they did not know where to go to access free sanitary products.
Goals Black Country are situated in the grounds of a school site therefore see a large number of girls who are in and around the club. They also see a number of women and girls who attend the club to play football and attend other events. Given the female footfall within the club, Adrian Lloyd, Goals Black Country's Assistant Manager approached Period Matters for support to help the females within their community who may be facing the reality of period poverty every month.
Adrian reached out to Period Matters who are an organisation that helps anyone in need to stay healthy and well through donations of period products or other essential items, as well as free one-to-one support. He explained that he would like Goals Black Country to be a clean, safe and reliable hub within the community where females can rely on for their sanitary products, should they be struggling. Adrian said: "We want everyone to be comfortable and have fun when playing football with us. Our aim is to reduce period poverty so females don't feel the need to miss out on they things they love." Adrian's vision aligns with that of Period Matters who agreed to support the club, providing them with a selection of sanitary products for the female facilities in the club.
For Goals Black Country enquiries, please contact:
Stuart Ratcliffe
General Manager
GOALS Black Country
Tel: 01902 637 700
blackcountry@goalsfootball.co.uk
