South Shields women’s charity relaunches its campaign for period dignity in schools

Bright Futures, a South Shields-based charity that supports girls and young women, has relaunched its campaign to give pupils a legal right to access school toilets when they have their period.

The campaign, which is backed by young advocates, aims to change the law so that students are legally entitled to use school toilets during their periods - no questions asked.

Bright Futures’ latest campaign is a follow-up to a previous initiative into the same matter, which gathered more than 5,000 signatures.

The charity has set its goal even higher this time as it aims to achieve 100,000 signatures to take the issue straight to Parliament and force a House of Commons debate.

Hannah Woodward, a project worker at Bright Futures, has stated that period dignity in school’s should be basic right.

She said: “No one should have to suffer in silence at school.

“Period dignity is a basic right, not a privilege, and we’re calling on our community and the wider public to help make it official.”

Meagan Wells, a social media influencer and ambassador for Bright Futures, has backed the campaign given her long-championed support for menstrual equity.

She commented: “This is about dignity, health, and fairness.

“No student should have to justify needing the toilet when they’re on their period or a have a health condition.”

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You can sign the petition by visiting: https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/718682 - once you have signed, you need to check your junk folder for a confirmation email as your signature only counts once it is confirmed.

For more information about Bright Futures, visit: https://brightfuturesne.co.uk/.

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