This week Thompsons Solicitors, who work closely with Unite the Union pledged their support for the campaign to end period poverty. The branch in Dagenham kicked off the campaign by donating around £70 worth of sanitary products to the homeless hostel, Butler Court which currently provides temporary accommodation to over 100 families. Thompsons will be providing this for at least the next six months.

Period Poverty is one of the most prominent issues facing young girls and women. The below statistics provided by the children’s charity Plan International UK highlight the extent of the struggle some face in accessing sanitary products due to financial constraint.

• One in ten girls have been unable to afford sanitary wear
• One in seven girls have struggled to afford sanitary wear
• One in seven girls have had to ask to borrow sanitary wear from a friend due to affordability issues
• More than one in ten girls has had to improvise sanitary wear due to affordability issues
• One in five girls have changed to a less suitable sanitary product due to cost

Cllr Glenda Paddle who works at Thompsons commented: “it’s 2018 and we live in one of the richest countries in the world, women not being able to access the essentials needed for a good and healthy quality of life because of financial constraints is a travesty. That is why I am proud Thompsons have committed to this campaign and are already making a difference to the lives of girls and young women here in Dagenham.”

Another spokesperson added: “We believe that period poverty is a social injustice which is why we are supporting the campaign to end period poverty. We have set up a national project group who will be donating sanitary wear to local schools, food banks, homeless shelters and refuges in areas of poverty, within the communities surrounding our offices.”