Wasps appeal for donations

An appeal has been launched by Wasps Netball for donations of sanitary products to help tackle period poverty.

Wasps Netball have joined with Birmingham and Solihull Women’s Aid and Coventry Haven to host a collection at their fixture against Severn Stars on Sunday 10 March at Ricoh Arena (4pm centre-pass).

Period poverty for women and girls refers to a lack of access to sanitary protection due to financial constraints, with one in ten girls unable to afford sanitary products in the UK.

The outcome is that women and girls in the UK are using inappropriate sanitary substitutes such as socks or newspaper or miss out on school and work whilst on their period because they are unable to afford sanitary protection.

Donation points will be placed in the fan plaza ahead of Wasps taking on Stars– with fans asked to bring a donation of sanitary wear.

Verity Brown, Community and Matchday Marketing Manager at Wasps, said: “This is a crucial appeal and we are encouraging everyone who comes along to the game on Sunday to please bring donations.

“These donations will be invaluable to the women who receive them and will make a huge difference to their day-to-day lives.”

Birmingham and Solihull Women’s Aid and Coventry Haven are charities who offer support to women and children affected by domestic violence and abuse.

Economic abuse is a form of abuse which affects women and girls’ abilities to access appropriate sanitary products.

Providing women and girls with sanitary products provides them with some relief of having to factor these in to their already tight budgets.

Maureen Connolly, Chief Executive of Birmingham and Solihull Women’s Aid, said: “Women affected by domestic abuse are having to choose between fuel and food for themselves and their children, so will not prioritise sanitary products.

“These sanitary items are essential and expensive and some women simply cannot afford them. Any donations provided give women and girls dignity and mean a lot to the women we support and their teenage daughters.

“Tackling period poverty not only raises awareness of the issue but also provides an arena for donations to be given and the issues relating to it to be tackled openly.”

Elaine Yates, Coventry Haven’s Chief Executive, added: “Thank you Wasps Netball. This is a fantastic appeal that will not only raise vital sanitary provisions for women and girls in our refuges, but also crucially raises awareness of the issue of domestic abuse.

“It also highlights Coventry Haven’s and Birmingham and Solihull Women’s Aid’s specialist services that are available across Coventry, Birmingham and Solihull.”

To find out more about Birmingham and Solihull Women’s Aid visit www.bswaid.org  or call 0121 685 8687.

For more information on Coventry Haven visit www.coventryhaven.co.uk or call 024 7644 4077