In 2020, between September and the end of December, The Female Health and Hygiene Project delivered out 12,000 sanitary pamper packs. Within these packs are Sanitary Towels, Tampons, Panty Liners. Also randomly added in to the packs are miniature shampoos, deodorants, impulse, mini make ups, body lotion, face masks. The bags have gone to women who are service users of various organisations across Burnley and East Lancashire including the maternity wards in the NHS. We have built up some fantastic partnerships during this time. We received some funding from The National Lottery and Latter Day Saints Charities, who also hand made 5,000 cotton sacks for this project, its impossible to name every single person. Public donations and organisational donations have been invaluable and we would not have been able to do it without everyone getting on board with this project So THANK YOU.

https://www.burnleyexpress.net/news/people/mum-two-joins-forces-burnley-mp-bid-lobby-government-end-period-poverty-and-make-sanitary-products-free-3070462

So we can continue delivering what women need we need to keep fundraising as we have bigger aspirations for 2021 and the fundraising starts now. There are so many women out there who need their confidence building back up BEFORE COVID, DURING COVID and AFTER COVID who haven't had access to these products. They need to know that "they have got this" because we've got there back. The coaches parents and gymnasts have been a massive helping hand in packing these packs whilst educating our young gymnasts about the need for a project like this.

Women should be able to ASK. They should be able to ASK for whatever they need in life without feeling judged. The stiff upper lip needs to leave and we need to educate young females of what this means for them.

on 1st January 2020, Rishi Sunak announced the abolishment of the Tampon Tax, whilst this is fantastic news, if a female cant afford a packet of pads in the first instance then this bill will not work. Females who can not access products should have products for FREE, Scotland introduced a piece of legislation in late 2020 whereby local authorities in Scotland have a LEGAL responsibility to provide FREE product to ANY FEMALE that NEEDS it. we are working with our local MP to help contribute and deliver this in the England.

Our 2021 goals are:

1. Carry on providing products to women who need them for FREE. Potentially opening a sanitary bank at various partnership locations

2. EDUCATE. We have going to be entering schools and educating children on periods, this is by no means whatsoever a sex education lesson but a workshop to help girls understand what their bodies will go through and how they might potentially feel.

3. Carry on using our partnerships to open doors for us to get this out in to the media and raise awareness of the difficulties our females are facing.

We have big plans for 2021 and if we can raise the financials to do it through donations and grants then there is no stopping us! £5,000 is a small start for us to begin with.

WOMEN SHOULD NOT HAVE TO ASK FOR WHAT THEY NEED! Its more important now than ever that we continue to help.

Thank you so much!

Sam Wright

The BEST Centre with The Female Health and Hygiene Project.