Sanitary protection when money is tight

Pensionpat Morrisons do have stick on towels at 25p for 10/12 pack light or heavy use ideal for young ladies to keep in their school back packs.

Of course, there's also the problem that teenage girls get so embarrassed about such things [I know I did, and I'm sure things haven't changed much since then]. I even used to feel embarrassed buying tampons or sanitary towels, although, strangely enough felt ok when I was buying such items for my daughter. I'm not sure that I would have asked at school for such things if I'd unexpectedly needed them.

Just had quick look on Tesco.....they sell 10/16 towels in either normal or night time absorbencies for 25p and 70p. Tampons are 24 for £1 (non applicator) or 20 for £1 (with applicator)

Very reasonably priced I thought.

Thank you all for your contributions. We are meeting to discuss the issue. You have been my focus group.

ww you know nothing as to what my childhood was like it was not like many others it was worse in oh so many ways and am sure that I know a great deal more than you do about poor and chaotic lifestyles!
You are going OTT with your posts at the moment, they are rude, patronising and
Unpleasant, is this your caring left wing side?

rose what is so sad is that you would rather push the idea that there are chaotic, neglectful households when talking about food banks, which in turn feeds into the idea of the undeserving poor.

Those working in food banks know different - I suggest you read Frank Fields report. At least you would then be a little more informed.

So agreeing with you that your childhood was poor as was so many others during that post war period is daring to tell you what you childhood was like!!!!????

whitewave no I think the pipe belongs to you.

ww first off...don't you dare tell me what my childhood was like! It was not like many others 'back then' I can tell you that for sure!

Secondly, there are chaotic households out there and many cases of neglect ( police often find households where children are grimy and underfed but the adults are all smoking and drinking non stop.)

Thirdly, if there is a need for these products then food banks can find out.....forms or gentle questions.

Oh no * ninny* it isn't me who suggested that those who might used food banks are chaotic it was rose
I hand the pipe to rose.

No just a single mother whose husband left her supporting myself and my children paying a mortgage and providing a good safe home for them, with home cooked meals and nice clothes and going without myself if they needed something and I was short that week. So put that in your pipe and smoke it, so the saying goes.

Our local secondary schools maintain a supply of sanitary products for girls who are caught short at school. One of our WFI members who worked in one of these schools discovered that these were seldom requested and also that they had a 'use by date' and thus the bulk of these was sent to landfill once a year. She managed to persuade that school and through liaising with contacts in the other schools, all the schools to donate the surplus via WFI to the local food banks. As a bonus the food banks started to publicise the availability of such products AND the schools had another look at their policies and began to make towels and tampons available on a 'help yourself' basis in girls' toilets.

A post Christmas letter and offer to collect from local pharmacies resulted in a big haul of toiletries gift sets, mainly with damaged packaging, for food bank customers. When I worked with women's aid we found a great source of small toiletries (and also, single, milk, sweeteners. coffee and tea) in seasonal B & Bs who cleared out their stocks in the autumn and bought fresh in the spring.

ninny so were you a chaotic household or poor money manager?

rose How on earth do you know it's a case of neglect in chaotic households.

When was the last time you spoke to someone who needed the food bank and asked them whether they would like sanitary protection.

I don't suppose you have the vaguest idea -your childhood home was poor like so many back them - nothing unusual, but it is a whole different ball game now and it is sad that so many are prepared to find any excuse they can - like chaotic households, poor money managers etc. Anything rather than look at the type of society we are becoming.

whitewater no I'm just not naive as you and some others appear to be. I was a single hard up mother myself but I always put my children first. In fact I have used rolled up toilet paper when I have been hard up as sanitary protection but wouldn't let my daughter miss school because I hadn't provided sanitary protection for her. I think it's neglect the parents will be getting child allowance. In fact I find it hard to believe.

Having looked at that link shysal there is no way that would have been of any use to me or indeed D. Enough said !

Further to that....am guessing that they would already have been asked for perhaps ( in the food banks) if not, then either they are not needed or considered too embarrassing to ask and receive them.

I don't know about including these in food banks ( unless sure of the need) but certainly babies nappies are expensive and would be appreciated.
I grew up in a very poor household, no money for anything, but never went without sanitary products ( awful as they were back then.) I agree with the poster who suggests it's more a case of neglect in some chaotic households than money.
I guess foodbanks could assess the need, from their clients.

I will have to Google 'Tassie'

I expect your so called elderly couple were using them as well

Oh ninny just how intolerant are you prepared to get

My local Co-op pharmacy has a large box in which to donate sanitary items. Not sure how they are distributed.

I used a Tassie for most of my fertile life. It required only a one-off purchase payment and the same one lasted right through. You can't get much cheaper than that! It was so efficient and never leaked. It was more convenient if the toilet cubicle included a basin to wash it, but it wiped clean with loo roll if necessary. The current version is a Mooncup in silicone. I don't know whether many people know of their existence, they are not just for eco warriers! They would be ideal for those on a low budget. The company supplies overseas charities.
www.mooncup.co.uk/

What about approaching someone like 'Boots' just a thought as they are such a hugh company!. Much the same as the big stores like M&S donating food etc.,
Such a sad story about young girls missing school.

Nina I like your suggestion of a help-yourself to a bag of personal items.

Thank you Nina. I don't want to be negative, but doubt that a pharmacy would be happy to give away products that they would prefer to sell.

ninny many mothers with daughters in their early teens will require them themselves. They can hardly "go without".
When you are living hand to mouth an extra £5 is a lot to find.