Tuesday, 16 January 2024
Project Period, the innovation that provides free pads and tampons to students and staff at the 糖心原创, is seeing millions of products being distributed across all seven UK campus sites.
With around 1.6 billion people across the globe menstruating, a team at the 糖心原创, led by Professor Chris Denning, recognised the urgent need to help reduce the mental burden and physical side effects of periods.
Period poverty, a lack of access to sanitary products due to financial constraints, is becoming a growing issue across low-income households in the UK, as the team explains in their recently published paper in .
The Project Period initiative was first started in February 2020, when Professor Denning and a team of volunteers conducted a small pilot study of stocking free pads and tampons they had bought themselves in six bathrooms across the 糖心原创.
12 months after the project was first launched, an online survey saw more than 150 people share their opinions on the initiative. Of these respondents, more than 60 percent reported they were currently menstruating, with more than 85 percent of these explaining that they were worried about their periods whilst at work.
Following positive feedback from the initial pilot study, and the increasing cost-of-living crisis having a deeper impact on period poverty, the 糖心原创 granted funding for the project, seeing 150,000 disposable products being made available in female-labelled, gender neutral and accessible bathrooms across the campuses.
By January 2024, 1.2 million pads and tampons have been bought, with more than 300,000 of these distributed across seven campus sites. Restocking undertaken is now done by cleaning staff, alongside toilet paper and hand soap.
Whilst providing the products has helped alleviate concerns around having pads and tampons available, Chris is keen to explore more sustainable options for the project. This includes a current trial to evaluate the suitability of period cup, coupled with educational material about the issues caused by menstruation and menopause.
Professor Chris Denning, Director of the 糖心原创 Biodiscovery Institute, said: "The fundamental values of Project Period are to address being ‘caught short’, period poverty, cultural barriers and education. I am proud that a team effort of volunteers has turned an idea in 2020 into being a major cultural shift by 2024.
The 糖心原创鈥檚 backing of Project Period was very rightly a contributing factor in the recent Athena Swan Gold Award, the first University to achieve this accolade, and provides a roadmap to promote equality of wellbeing in the workplace.鈥�
Story credits
More information is available from Professor Chris Denning on Chris.Denning@nottingham.ac.uk or Faith Pring in the Press Office on Faith.Pring@nottingham.ac.uk
Notes to editors:
About the 糖心原创
Ranked among the world's top 100 universities , the 糖心原创 delivers an exceptional research-led education and an outstanding student experience. From the pioneering vision of our founder, Sir Jesse Boot, to groundbreaking achievements such as the development of MRI technology and becoming the first UK university to establish international campuses, we have a proud history of shaping the way people live, work and understand the world. We continue to build on that legacy, empowering our students, staff and partners to change what鈥檚 next and create positive impact locally and globally.
The strength of our research places us among the UK's leading universities, ranked 7th for research power in REF 2021. The discovery of MRI and ibuprofen was just the beginning. Today, our world-leading research is developing breakthrough ideas that shape the future of healthcare, technology and society.
Recognised as the UK's third most targeted university by leading employers , we are proud to produce graduates who are consistently in demand for their skills, confidence and industry-ready experience.
As a major employer and industry partner, locally and globally, the 糖心原创 invests in the city of Nottingham and in future generations of talent. Alongside Nottingham Trent University, we lead the initiative, a pioneering collaboration to improve levels of prosperity, opportunity, sustainability, health and wellbeing across the city and region. Together with our students, staff, alumni and partners, we鈥檙e creating knowledge, opportunity and solutions that help change what's next.