Bolton supermarket worker tackles period poverty with new scheme

Campaigners in Greater Manchester are fighting for change after growing concerns over period poverty in lockdown.

Statistics from ‘Plan UK’ found that 3 in 10 girls struggled to afford or access sanitary wear during lockdown. This figure has risen from 1 in 10 in 2017.

Morrisons are the first supermarket retailer to introduce the ‘ask for Sandy’ scheme where anybody can ask for sanitary products discreetly and free of charge.

The brand-new initiative is aiming to tackle the ever-growing period poverty. Shoppers and non-shoppers can ask the kiosk for a package from ‘Sandy’, where they’ll be discreetly handed over a brown paper bag, in which they can take any products they need.

The scheme comes after Emma Parkinson, a Community Champion for Morrisons in Bolton, recalled memories from growing up around period poverty,

“The only way I could access it conveniently and discreetly was going into the toilet and paying £2.

“I guess what inspired the campaign, is it’s just not accessible and sometimes its uncomfortable to approach someone in a clinical environment or someone that you know as well.”

The scheme started in Bolton and now it is in 497 stores nationwide.