MIDHURST Rother College has joined schools across the UK in backing the Red Box charity project to change attitudes to menstruation.

The Red Box Project was founded in March 2017 by three friends who wanted to give young people in the Portsmouth area access to sanitary products. After reading about ‘period poverty’ in the news, they were angered at the idea young women were missing out on their education because they couldn’t afford the products they needed during their period.

They contacted several secondary schools in Portsmouth to ask if a constantly-stocked box of menstrual products would be welcomed. The feedback from teachers was the issue was real and the resource was needed.

Recognising the need was nationwide, they invited individuals from across the country to be a part of this movement and the response was overwhelming.

Supporters began to group together to set up Red Boxes and deliver them to local schools. They fundraised to make sure their boxes never became empty.

Following a presentation to Midhurst Rother College at a whole-school assembly, communication with parents and information posters in the female toilets, the Red Box project is now “live”.

The college has two Red Boxes, one at student reception and one in the sixth form office, and any student in need of sanitary items only has to ask for the Red Box and take what she needs.

Year 13 student Belle West, who has been promoting the project, said: “The Red Box Project is an amazing charity that not only raises awareness of the many girls nationally who don’t have access to sanitary products, but also provides help for local girls in need.

“I’m proud my school has chosen to support it.”

College principal Stuart Edwards added: “We are pleased to be supporting this charity and the positive work they are doing within school communities.”

UK health officials have called for sanitary products to be given out free in hospitals and to low-income houses, in the hope of tackling ‘period poverty’.

UK statistics published in 2017 revealed one in 10 women aged 14 to 21 cannot afford sanitary towels in Britain.

The government says it “strongly supports” scrapping the five per cent levy on sanitary products after Brexit.