12/07/2025
Hi everyone my name is Claire Mcgurk and I am the newly appointed Belle of Mid-Ulster and I am delighted to be front lining this year's period poverty campaign.
Period poverty; a real issue with stark statistics. Things that a lot of people take for granted. The statistics shocked me with A fifth of women reporting they have difficulty affording sanitary products.
The impact meaning missing school or work and increased social isolation.
Some women have reported using toilet roll or old rags.
We have been living in a cost of living crisis for some time now making it more difficult to afford the necessary sanitary products.
A recommended watch is the film I, Daniel Blake. This movie has a scene in it where a single mother struggling to make ends meet is caught stealing sanitary products. This sparked conversations around period poverty, bringing it to the public domain.
Donations of sanitary products reportedly in some places quadrupled.
We need to have more of these conversations brought into the public eye to raise the real time issue of period poverty.
We as a community can tackle it at a local level by donating what we can to the various drop off points. This will help make sanitary products more accessible in schools and children will feel more reassured and comfortable when menstruation occurs.
Any donation will help and will be greatly appreciated.
Mid Ulster District Council
Cllr Frances Burton
The Burnavon Theatre
InVOLve House
