Over the past few months, NHS South Sefton Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) and NHS Southport and Formby CCG have been busy collecting sanitary product donations for women who struggle to access them as part of the Red Box Project – Sefton.

The Red Box Project is a community-based, not-for-profit initiative, which aims to support young people throughout their periods by providing local schools with red boxes filled with free period products.

It was founded in March 2017 by three friends who became aware of ‘period poverty’ through news reports. They were angered that some young women were missing out on their education because they couldn’t afford the products they needed during their period.

Mandy Smith, Sefton coordinator at Red Box Project – Sefton, set up the service in Sefton. The initiative then sent the department the materials needed to set up a donation point in the kitchen at the Sefton CCG building.

Mandy said: “This is a great initiative to support our community – it felt like an opportunity not to be missed. We have collected a box full of period product donations for local schools and are proud to be supporting young people throughout their periods.

“No child should miss out on their education because they cannot afford period products.”

Martin McDowell, deputy chief officer at the CCGs in Sefton, added: “This is a fantastic initiative and I want to thank Mandy for getting us all involved.

“We are keen to help tackle health inequalities and to create a progressive, supportive environment which is why we got involved with the project, we hope it helps.”

To find out more about the Red Box Project and get involved, visit: www.redboxproject.org