A NATIONWIDE, community funded project which aims to help tackle period poverty is being brought to the Holsworthy and Bude area.

The Red Box Project quietly ensures no young woman misses out on her education because of her period. Lisa Kepple, from Holsworthy, decided to take up the mantle of area coordinator for the project after seeing a post online.

She said: “It was your usual story, I was scrolling through my news feed when it popped up. It said ‘coordinators needed in your area’. I had heard a lot about it on the news so I went on the website, started reading into the project and thought I might as well give it a go — it is such a great idea.”

In the first week Lisa spoke to many local businesses in the Holsworthy area and after she noticed an enthusiasm amongst local business owners for the project she decided to extend its reach: “It has all been a bit crazy really, we have got a lot of donation points now. I didn’t estimate how busy it would be.

“There is already a coordination group covering the Torridge area so I thought I would reach out and across to Bude. After that I went to Okehampton — things really grew quite rapidly.”

Lisa reached out to both small and large retailers to see if they would be willing to have a donation point stationed in their store.

Lisa said: “I was surprised by the response from smaller stores. It shows a lot of local people want to get involved and support this — you wouldn’t think there would be a need for it round here but people are still keen to support it.”

The hope is that shoppers will purchase sanitary products and place them in the donation boxes provided at local stores.

The items from these boxes will then be collected by Lisa and used to stock up ‘Red Boxes’, which will be given to local schools so young women can access the products free of charge.

The boxes will be easily accessible through an appropriate member of staff and plain bags will be provided for discretion. Posters will also be placed in girls’ toilets showing where the items can be found.

The project looks to support young women throughout their period with as many sanitary products as they need and extra will be provided as an added to prevent a panic next month.

As periods happen during the school holidays as well pupils are encouraged to take extra during this time too.

A spokesperson for the project said: “A young woman’s education will shape her future. We are determined that this will be the last generation of girls to suffer the indignity and embarrassment of period poverty.”

Lisa said: “Both Holsworthy schools, the community college and primary school, are interested in having a box, along with Okehampton Community College and Bude Primary School.

“Things have moved quickly. We have now set up the donation points and are just waiting for donations of sanitary towels and tampons.

“These donation boxes will be a permanent feature in shops, who are all happy to keep them there, and we hope to be able to work alongside more of the larger stores in the future — might as well aim big!”

So far Lisa has set up donation points in Holsworthy at the Library, Odins Tattoo Parlour, Holsworthy Foot Health Clinic, Ashwater Village Shop, Kylee Marie Hair, Ironside Flooring, The Copper Academy, Lisa Doolan Slimming world Thursday group, Waitrose and Co-op.

Donation points in Bude include Time 2 Travel, The Wharf and Kilkhampton Village Stores. Donation point in Okehampton can be found at the Library and Tori’s Tucker.

A Just Giving page has also been set up to fundraise £150 to help towards start up costs for the project. Lisa added: “A special thanks to This Life Business and Blagdon Farm for their amazing donations.”

To support the project visit the JustGiving page www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/theredboxprojectholsworthybude?utm_term=2Kj6dXZ7qolHH or pop into one of the local stores stocking donation boxes to make a contribution of sanitary products.

For more information visit www.facebook.com/theredboxprojectuk

To become a co-ordinator or support the Red Box Project email [email protected]