Justin Madders, MP for Ellesmere Port and Neston, has joined the call by the Communications Workers Union (CWU) to make period products free for anyone who needs them.

At a recent Parliamentary event Justin met with representatives from the Union to hear about their campaign to bring forward the day when no one has to rely on charity to tend to their period needs.

The CWU highlighted the fact that basic period products will cost around £5000 over a woman’s lifetime, and that many people who cannot afford them are reliant on charity or resort to using unhygienic alternatives.  At the same time, it is estimated that 137,000 girls in the UK skipped school last year because they didn’t have the period products they needed.

Justin said:

“It’s a scandal that children in Ellesmere Port and Neston are missing school days because of period poverty, and that people here are going without these basic necessities.

“There really is only one way to end period poverty and that’s to make these products universally and freely available. Scotland is leading the way on this, and we must follow their example.

“My office at 23 Whitby Road is also taking part in a constituency initiative, with our local churches, to help alleviate period poverty by acting as a collection point for period products which will be distributed to local people in need.  I hope those who can will support this scheme and anyone with items to donate can just drop them into Whitby Road during office hours.”