{"id":24445,"date":"2018-02-02T16:01:26","date_gmt":"2018-02-02T16:01:26","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/jomec.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/?p=24445"},"modified":"2018-02-02T16:01:26","modified_gmt":"2018-02-02T16:01:26","slug":"cardiff-women-combatting-period-poverty","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/2018\/02\/02\/cardiff-women-combatting-period-poverty\/","title":{"rendered":"How Cardiff women are combatting period poverty"},"content":{"rendered":"

WOMEN around Cardiff are coming up with new ideas to combat period poverty.<\/span>
\nAccording to latest statistics from charity, Plan International, one in 10 women has been unable to afford sanitary products and 12 per cent of women have had to improvise sanitary wear. <\/span>
\nFiona Munnelly, 26 an occupational therapy student at Cardiff University, is the project leader for Periods in Poverty. <\/span>
\nThe campaign has set up donation points for sanitary products, which Ms Munnelly says are in the late stages of development, at Chapter Arts Centre, Cardiff Students’ Union and University Hospital of Wales. <\/span>
\nThe campaign received 700 donations in December, which were given to homeless charities and domestic violence survivor hostels. <\/span>
\nMs Munnelly said: \u201cMy main motivation was discussing this with my grandmother and her telling me she had been unable to afford sanitary products and the shame this caused.<\/span>
\n\u201cRecent news and articles, and reports are highlighting the impact of this, such as kids missing school, people who are homeless having to use inadequate solutions and people having to choose between eating or being dignified. <\/span>
\n\u201cThese all have consequential factors, risking health, education and wellbeing for the most marginalised individuals.\u201d <\/span>
\nOn January 27, Ms Munnelly sat on the panel of Cardiff Central Women\u2019s Labour Forum to discuss how the city is trying to combat the issues.<\/span>
\nNorma Mackie, Cathays councillor said: \u201cWomen are choosing whether to put food on the table or choosing sanitary products. <\/span>
\n\u201cWith education being devolved to us, they are wanting Wales to do something about it because it is on the education side of things through schools, but again that\u2019s only a small amount of women. <\/span>
\n\u201cWhether it should be a central government issue needs to be considered.\u201d<\/span>
\nBecca Mapp, 28, born in Llandaff, but now living in Miskin is a seamstress and small business owner, who makes cloth sanitary pads. <\/span>
\nHer business, Silly Panda Co, focuses on eco-friendly products and chooses fabric over plastic, commonly used in sanitary wear. <\/span>
\nThe pads can be washed and reused, simultaneously helping the environment and saving people money.<\/span>
\n

\"\"