Gemma’s a local hero for battling period poverty
A CORNELLY woman who has championed the issue of period poverty is among the local heroes who will be receiving a Mayor’s Citizenship Award this week from Bridgend County Borough Council.
After hearing that menstrual products are sometimes out of reach for young women who can’t afford them, Gemma Hartnoll formed the Wings (Women In Need Getting Support) Cymru Group in May 2017.
Gemma and her committee members and fundraisers initially began fundraising so that she could set up her first period poverty scheme in Maesteg Comprehensive School, providing menstrual products girls who need them.
Feedback from the school, which operates a ‘help yourself, no questions asked’ system, has shown that approximately 6% of female pupils are currently accessing the service.
The school has really embraced the provision, with several pupils even becoming Wings Cymru Ambassadors who are easily identified by wearing a branded pin badge.
Wings Cymru are now also donating menstrual products to 14 other schools and aim to have free for a presence in every Bridgend County Borough school by July 2018.
They have also raised enough money to donate a large amount of products for local women to access at the Bridgend Food Bank, and are encouraging the Welsh Assembly Government to roll out a ‘period poverty’ scheme across Wales.
Determined to make a difference in Bridgend County Borough, Gemma said: “No-one should ever be in a position of being worried that they cannot access proper protection for their natural biological need. There are enough challenges in life without having to worry about protection for menstrua- tion. We cannot allow this to be another stress and barrier for our girls!
“All of our schools in Bridgend County Borough will have a provision in place by July 2018, and we will be the first county in Wales to offer this. We have also been supporting other areas in Wales who want to set up similar projects and we are so pleased that they too are striving to end period poverty.”
Mayor of Bridgend County Borough, Councillor Pam Davies said: “I’m really looking forward to meeting Gemma and all of the winners this week to present them with their well-deserved awards. We’re lucky in Bridgend County Borough to have so many inspiring individuals who make a real difference in their communities.
“The awards allow us to celebrate the success of these individuals and give them the appreciation they so rightly deserve.”
WINGS Cymru need around 1,000 more menstrual products by June to give out in the remaining schools and have set up several drop-off points across the county borough where residents can donate packs, including:
Capelli Salon, 106 Nolton Street, Bridgend;
Beth Daniel Hair Designers, 20 Dunraven Place, Bridgend;
Maggie C’s, Commercial Maesteg;
Office of Huw IrrancaDavies AM, Unit 2, 112113 Commercial Street, 134 Street, Maesteg;
Office of Chris Elmore MP, 44a Penybont Road, Pencoed;
Lorraine Evans Kilpitz Hairdressers, 58 Pisgah St Kenfig Hill, CF33 6BU;
Brackla Co-op, Canolfan, Bridgend;
Porthcawl Co-op, 270 New Road, Porthcawl;
Porthcawl Co-op, Lias Road, Porthcawl.
To find out more visit wingscymru.co.uk. 10