Translation form

Thank you for taking the time to translate this page, making our website accessible to more people. We have created a simple form to help ensure the process is easy and intuitive. Follow the headings for each section and add your translations below each one.

You are currently translating

How one church is combating period poverty

View current page

English content

Text block 1

St Winifred's Church Penrhiwceiber is tackling period poverty in the Cynon Valley by offering free period products to the community.

Welsh content

Text block 2

The church has teamed up with period poverty campaign group Hey Girls to provide tampons and period pants to anyone in need. Hey Girls is a community interest company who sell their own period products and for every one they sell they give one away. Hey Girls believe that access to menstrual products is a right, not a privilege and aim to eradicate period poverty in the UK.Period poverty affects women who cannot afford to buy sanitary products and who have a lack of understanding about menstruation. A 2019 report for the End Child Poverty Network highlighted areas of deprivation in Wales with nearly half of children in Penrhiwceiber living in poverty.Parish priest Fr Ben Rabjohns, who helped set up the initiative, says, "We know that this is one of the most deprived communities in Wales so we want to help in any way we can."Period poverty is something that's been in the news recently and a lot more awareness on social media so it's something I've picked up on."We thought it would be something useful to help contribute to combating period poverty by offering free products from our church."It's important for churches to to serve the places in which they are set in whatever context is right for that community. Here, with high levels of deprivation, there are material needs that we can help with, and that is something that churches should do something about."Products such as applicator tampons and period pants are available from the back of St Winifred's Church during the day.

Section title block 3

What is period poverty?

Text block 4

Period poverty is the lack of access to sanitary products, and the lack of knowledge about menstruation. Plan International research highlights that:15% of girls struggle to afford sanitary products.14% have had to borrow products from a friend.In 2019, the Welsh Government launched the Period Dignity Grant for Schools to provide over 141,000 girls in Welsh primary and secondary schools with a range of sanitary products.

Section title block 5

What can churches do?

Text block 6

Stock free period products in your church from Hey Girls.Support Period Poverty Art Competition run by The Gift Wellness FoundationJoin in the conversation online using #EndPeriodPoverty and #RhoiDiweddArDlodirMisglwyf.Need advice?Contact Christoph Auckland, Senior Outreach Officer, for support with outreach initiatives christopherauckland@churchinwales.org.uk