The Cambridge Period Project were hard at work this Michaelmas, continuing our mission of eradicating period poverty in Cambridge, while providing crucial education about menstruation. Here is what we have been up to over the last few months!
Community
The Communities side of the Period Project, led by Tess, carried out invaluable work in Michaelmas to expand the reach of aid throughout the city and surrounding area. Continuing our collaboration with HeyGirls, the team linked eight local homelessness charities, foodbanks and women’s shelters with the company. This means that, as HeyGirls partners, they will receive a free supply of sustainable period products to distribute!
The Communities team also started outreach to local schools, providing them with resources in the hopes that they will implement a free period product scheme of their own, similar to the University one. Collaboration with local schools will will help us in our prioritisation of sustainability, accessibility and reducing stigma for young people!
The team have continued to nurture partnerships in the community. Partners currently include Winter Comfort, Romsey Mill, Cambridge Women’s Resource Centre, Bare Necessities, Jimmy’s, Cambridge Sustainable Food Hub, Caring for Cambridgeshire’s Homeless, Cambridge Women’s Aid, and Cambridge City Foodbank. In particular, the team have collaborated with Bloody Good Period to donate HeyGirls period products to Cambridge City Foodbank and the Whitworth Trust. Great work!
In December, it was time for Week 8 Donate. In total, the Period Project collected 1648 products from 16 colleges, which will be distributed to Cambridge Women’s Aid, the Cambridge Women’s Resource Centre and Cambridge Sustainable Food Bank. The breakdown of products were as follows: 1105 pads, 472 tampons, 12 deodorants, 6 toothbrushes, 12 packs of wipes, 9 body washes, 1 shampoo, 1 conditioner, 7 bars of soap, 6 reusable tampon applicators, 6 menstrual cups, and 1 pair of period underwear. Thank you to all who donated!
University
The University side of the project, led by Lily, were just as proactive this term! The team ran a sustainable period workshop training session for Women’s Officers, meaning that the workshops can be easily delivered in individual colleges going forward.
The University team worked closely with the SU to organise, promote and deliver the free reusable period product scheme. Hundreds of menstrual cups, reusable pads, and period underwear have now been ordered. Most of these have now arrived so will be delivered in the coming weeks!
The team continued to correspond with college Women’s Officers about getting their college to follow through with their agreement to provide free period products. Furthermore, the team continued to correspond with staff in departments about how to implement menstrual product schemes in their buildings. Continuing to push on both of these fronts, colleges and departments, is a priority for Lent term!
Events
The Project continued to foster a network of likeminded people in Michaelmas, through our fun and educational Events, organised by Events Officer Mia. After the success of our Sustainable Period Workshops last year, we held them more frequently this term, holding fortnightly Workshops where we discussed options to make period products more accessible and sustainable.
The Project held the Big Bloody Period Pub Quiz in collaboration with Don’t Cramp My Style, to raise money and donations to children on Pupil Premium Schemes in schools around Cambridge.
Finally, we held a Period Pad Making Workshop, where attendees were able to make their very own reusable period pads to take home!
All in all a rewarding term for the Period Project. Thank you for all the continued support – we will continue to campaign, donate and educate in Lent term!