My daughter, currently in Year 8, recently faced an uncomfortable and distressing situation at her school. During her class, she unexpectedly began her menstrual cycle and noticed blood on her chair. She left discreetly to head to the toilet, only to find that she'd left her emergency toiletries at home. Assuming there would be sanitary products available in the school toilets, she was disheartened to discover there weren't any. As a new student, she felt uncomfortable asking anyone for help, particularly since her only friend had not yet started menstruating. To make matters worse, when she approached the school staff, they neither allowed her to go home nor provided her with the necessary products to manage her situation.

This experience is not unique to my daughter but is a reality many schoolgirls face daily. Menstrual cycles are a natural part of life, and no young girl should have to experience such feelings of shame or distress during what should be a typical school day. The lack of access to sanitary products can affect their confidence, concentration, and dignity.

Research indicates that 1 in 10 girls in the UK cannot afford sanitary products, leading to missed schools days and impacting their education significantly. This is an urgent issue that demands our attention. Across various age groups and socio-economic backgrounds, we need to normalise periods and ensure that our schools are supportive environments for all students.

To remedy this situation, I am urging all secondary schools across the UK to provide free sanitary products in all girls' toilets. Providing sanitary products would mean that young girls wouldn’t have to feel unprepared or uncomfortable, and it would ensure they have the basic necessities to manage their periods while at school. It's a simple step that can make a massive difference in creating an equitable and supportive educational environment.

We need to work together to remove the stigma around menstruation and guarantee that no girl feels embarrassed or unworthy due to natural bodily functions. Therefore, we request the education authorities and school administrations to address this need urgently.

Please help us ensure that our schools become supportive spaces where all students can focus on learning rather than worrying about their next period. Sign this petition to make free, readily available sanitary products in secondary school toilets a reality for every young girl.