A NEW project has been launched in Widnes to tackle period poverty by giving girls free sanitary items at school.

Louise Webster is the Red Box Project co-ordinator for the area and has started distributing red boxes to collection points.

The Red Box Project was launched to provide period products in schools so that girls had access to free materials and not miss out on their education.

Red donation boxes are given to shops, doctors surgeries and community centres where people can drop off a donation of sanitary towels, tampons and pants.

Sanitary items are then given out to schools with paper bags and pants so that female students can help themselves to the free materials.

Schools do stock a limited supply of sanitary towels to cover emergencies but what makes this project special is that it aims to give enough supplies to get a girl through her entire period.

There are currently red boxes in the following locations:

Presentation Florist, Liverpool Road

Eddies Haberdashery, Widnes Market

Upton Rocks Surgery, Heath Road

Saints Peter and Paul Catholic High School, Highfield Road

Wade Deacon High School, Birchfield Road

DivaFit-Uk Zumba classes, Peel House Lane

Joanne’s Hair Salon, Liverpool Road

Spinney Pre-School, Spinney Avenue

If you would like more information about the project or learn how to get involved, email redboxprojectuk@gmail.com.