Project Period

Project Period

Project Period is a scheme that aims to provide free menstruation products for students and staff across the university.

Thanks to your kind support, Project Period received Cascade funding, which has helped them to achieve their vision of driving positive change surrounding menstruation and menopause.

The scheme was started by Director of the university’s Biodiversity Institute, Chris Denning and PhD student Kavita Raniga. It was first trialled in six bathrooms in the institute and has now expanded to seven different campuses. “We believe that period products are essential and should be freely available,” Kavita explains. “Menstruation affects so many people at the university’s wellbeing and productivity. There is always more to do to ensure diversity and inclusivity. Making provision for period products for anyone who needs them is a small step in the right direction.”

Now more than ever, with costs continually rising, it is essential to support students wherever possible. Chris says: “A lot of the students who will be struggling the most with the cost of living may well struggle to pay their heating bills at home. The libraries are going to form a refuge for them. If they’ve also got access to free sanitary products in those spaces, then it makes it all the better for them.”

Since July 2022, Project Period has distributed more than 45,000 products across the university’s campuses.

Funding for the scheme ends in July this year and Chris expressed how important it is to continue to provide free products: “If we don’t get funding, we can’t carry on. If you’re an advocate for Project Period and free menstruation supplies, this is something we would love you to get behind.” Chris continued: “Without Cascade’s input, we wouldn’t have had any choice but to just try and encourage people to set things up. Once we had some financial support, it put us on the vertical in terms of what we could achieve.

“From my point of view, period products should be in the exact same league as toilet paper and hand soap. Until we’ve got to that stage, I don’t think we’ve been successful. There is absolutely a need to supply these products.”