As a woman, I understand the unpredictability of periods. It's heartbreaking to know that women and girls are missing school, work, interviews or care due to lack of funds for menstrual products. This is not right. In Scotland - the first country in the world to make such a move - menstrual products are free for all. This has significantly eased the financial burden on women and allowed them to carry on with their daily lives without interruption.

Periods are a natural occurrence that women endure approximately 480 times throughout their lifetime in order to produce an average of less than two children per family. Without this process, life could not exist. However, this essential part of life costs each woman around £5000 over her lifetime.

With living costs rising steadily, about one in eight women find themselves unable to afford these necessary items – they're living in period poverty.

The time has come for England, Wales and Ireland to follow Scotland's lead by providing free menstrual products for all women. No woman should have her education or career disrupted because she can't afford basic sanitary items.

Join me as we petition parliament to address period poverty by providing free menstrual products across England, Wales and Ireland just like Scotland does! Sign this petition today!