Tackling student engagement through a university-wide policy to tackle period poverty

Period Poverty has been heightened by the cost-of-living crisis, with up to 28% of young women (aged 16-24) report having missed their education due to their periods. This has a limiting effect on women being able to fulfil their potential including actively engaging in their university education. Staff at Teesside University proactively worked together to tackle this issue by provision of free period products using a planet friendly approach, including the trialling of menstrual cups. This talk will look at how this was achieved, what the hurdles were and how this is important to helping students through the cost-of-living crisis.