Stanhope Street group serves up support for women facing period poverty

A group of women in Ashton’s Hurst Methodist Church has taken a powerful stand against period poverty, helping ensure that no local woman or girl is forced to choose between feeding her family and managing her period with dignity.

The Saturday morning gathering, based at the church on Stanhope Street, welcomed Dr Anita Sharma, founder of the charity Endometriosis Awareness North, for an eye-opening session on the often-hidden issue of period poverty. After outlining the scale of the problem, Dr Sharma distributed free sanitary products to women in the community – items donated by supporters from across Greater Manchester, including Rochdale and Oldham.

“Over a fifth of UK women are now struggling with period poverty,” Dr Sharma said. “That figure is up 12% since last year. It’s a silent crisis caused by a mix of financial hardship and a persistent disregard for women’s health.”

The Stanhope Street women’s group, made up of around 60 members, had previously raised funds to support endometriosis research – a connection that first brought them to Dr Sharma’s attention.

“I first met the Hurst Methodist group when they held a coffee morning to help women suffering with endometriosis,” she explained. “I saw then that they were a tight-knit, compassionate group who could make an enormous contribution to tackling period poverty.”

The issue is about more than just hygiene – it’s also about dignity, education, and health. “Girls are missing school because they’re ashamed to be caught unprepared,” Dr Sharma said. “And when women are forced to use alternatives like handkerchiefs, the risk of serious infections increases dramatically.”

UK food banks have reported surging demand for menstrual products, reflecting how widespread the problem has become. But Dr Sharma warns that without systemic change, progress will remain limited.

“Period poverty is a human rights issue,” she said. “It’s not just about money. It’s also about the way society and politics continue to overlook women’s health. That’s everything from cervical cancer screening delays to underdiagnosed conditions like endometriosis. No wonder men’s life expectancy is rising while women’s has stagnated.”

While some schools and colleges have begun to offer free period products, Dr Sharma believes this must be expanded. “They should be available cheaply and safely for all – just like toilet paper,” she said.

And the issue extends far beyond Tameside. “In parts of Africa, one in five women has no access at all to menstrual products. This is an international crisis – and it starts with awareness. A church group might seem like a small place to begin, but the Hurst community has taken a huge step in declaring that access to menstrual products is a basic human right.”

To find out more about the work of Endometriosis Awareness North, visit endometriosisawarenessnorth.com. Donations support research into the condition and direct help for sufferers and their families. To donate, please visit PayPal Giving Page.