Trio want clubs to team up and help end period poverty

Football fans call on big names to join campaign

A football fan who successfully campaigned for bosses at Celtic Park to help tackle period poverty is setting her sights on other football clubs to follow suit.

Paisley NHS worker Orlaith Duffy teamed up with her friends and fellow Celtic season ticket holders, Erin Slaven, 21, and Mikaela McKinley, 29, to campaign for the Glasgow club to provide products for its female fans.

After just a few weeks they were successful with the club agreeing to provide free sanitary products when the new season starts in August.

Orlaith, 24, said: “It was Erin’s idea to start a campaign, period poverty is getting a lot of publicity at the moment.

“For females, this is just as necessary as toilet roll and soap. “Period products aren’t a luxury. “No matter what a family’s financial situation is, these products should be readily available.”

The trio have been inspired by Central Scotland Labour MSP Monica Lennon, who is putting a Bill through parliament to ensure free access to sanitary products across Scotland, including in schools, colleges and universities.

Orlaith said they decided to start with Celtic as they’re all season ticket holders, but they’re keen to work with other sports clubs including St Mirren.

“We’re all Celtic season ticket holders and thought it would be a great place for us to do something for our own community,” she explained.

“Now we’ve been successful, we’re hoping to work with more clubs throughout Scotland.

“Everything went really quickly, we didn’t expect it to grow as big as it did.

“We’re taking a step back over the summer and will try to reach out to more clubs.

“It’s not just football clubs, we want to speak to all sports clubs.”

The ladies’ campaign was launced over social media via Twitter and an online petition to Celtic FC.

To find out more about Monica Lennon MSP’s campaign, go to periodpovertyscotland. weebly. com/

No matter a family’s finanical situation, these products should be available Orlaith Duffy