Ipswich shopping centre working to combat period poverty
Anyone at the Buttermarket can 'Ask for Poppy' and will be given sanitary products at no cost - no questions asked
Last updated 22nd Aug 2023
A local shopping centre in Ipswich is helping to tackle period poverty through a new campaign: 'Ask for Poppy'.
The campaign allows people to discreetly ask for period products at no cost.
It's as period poverty is an issue that has increased with the cost of living crisis.
A new poll from Plan International reveals that nearly 30% (28%) are struggling to afford period products, whilst nearly one in five (19%) report they've been unable to afford period products at all since the start of 2022.
"It's heart-breaking"
Rebecca Bird is the centre manager at the Buttermarket in Ipswich. She helped to create the campaign, after noticing, over the last year, a lot more toilet paper was going missing and more and more people were asking for period products:
"It is terrible that people cannot afford sanitary products.
"It is heartbreaking... We see and hear stories, especially of younger people who are using non-safe, or non-sanitised products to help them."
How does it work?
Rebecca explained that the staff have been trained so that when someone 'asks for Poppy' they can help.
The staff will then go and get a white envelope, which contains various sizes of pads and tampons to suit everyone's needs.
Rebecca told us they've been giving a pack out nearly every other day since the campaign started and there've been all kinds of people asking for it:
"You can see the relief. We've had a couple of people come back and say thank you so much."
More companies are getting involved
Other businesses in the Buttermarket shopping centre have been getting involved with this campaign and now include the signs in their shops or restaurants.
Despite this Rebecca feels this is still an issue that needs to be addressed on a larger scale:
"I think the conversation is getting better... people are trying to break the stigma around it but it just still seems to be a very embarrassing subject that people shy away from.
"How many of us go through this every month? There is no need for it, we can all stand together and promote it together."