Fire Service teams up with the Red Box Project to help tackle period poverty

Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue has teamed up with the Red Box Project to help tackle period poverty by providing red boxes filled with free sanitary products in community locations.

Many young women in the UK miss school because they have started their period and find it hard to obtain sanitary products. The result? Anxiety, embarrassment, missed lessons, missed education, including those that are attending TWFRS sessions and events.

The Gender Network of TWFRS decided to help tackle this issue by partnering with the Red Box Project in Newcastle.

Co-Chair of the TWFRS Gender Network Cathryn Monteith said: “Our aim is to have free sanitary products for the public in every fire station in Tyne and Wear. We are working closely with Red Box to ensure full coverage across TWFRS locations.

“To help sustain this initiative and the boxes at TWFRS locations, we need your help. We are asking for donations of tampons and towels which can be dropped off at TWFRS SHQ, Nissan Way, Washington. Even one packet could make such a difference.”

The Red Box Project is a community organisation, which aims to support young people throughout their periods by providing red boxes filled with free sanitary products in community locations.

Staff across the Service are supporting the initiative by donating products.

Jenny Hicken the Red Box Project Newcastle coordinator said: “The Red Box Project Newcastle is delighted to provide our boxes, filled with products kindly donated by the community, to support young people attending TWFRS venues across the city.

“Whilst the main focus of The Red Box Project is to alleviate the effects of period poverty in schools and avoid missed education, we recognise the need will always be there in lots of community locations working with young people. We hope that the provision of these Red Boxes will enable those in need to get through their period with dignity, wherever they can access a box.”

We currently have a Red Box at Safetyworks! And we hope to have four other boxes delivered to four stations in Newcastle over the coming weeks by the Prince’s Trust Team.