THE Red Box Project, championed in Mid Devon and Exeter by Crediton Town Councillor Louise Martin, is thrilled that, from Monday, January 20, every state-funded school and college in England is now able to order free period products for their students.

The Red Box Project has teamed up with the campaign group, Free Periods, founded by teenager Amika George, to urge every school and college in England to sign up to the new Government scheme.

The work of the Red Box Project has shown that having freely available period products in school can have a significant impact on a child’s ability to participate in their education, and so to reach their full potential.

One school taking part in the Red Box Project in Portsmouth reported increased attendance of nearly a third after providing access to free period products for their students.

Anna Miles, co-founder of the project, said: "Our volunteers have worked incredibly hard during the past three years, collecting donations of period products from their communities and delivering them to over 5,000 educational settings across the UK. We have always believed, however, that access to these essential items should not rely on the kindness of strangers, and we are so glad that, from today (January 20), schools and colleges across England will be supported by the Government to order period products for their students, for free.”

Clegg Bamber, co-founder of the project added: “Every school and college in England has been allocated funding for their students and we urge them to use it. There is no means-testing for the scheme - it is for any student who needs it, for whatever reason.

"We really encourage all primary schools to get involved with the scheme. Periods can start as young as eight or nine, and younger children will usually need some help to cope with their periods at school.”

The Red Box Project is a nationwide, community-powered initiative to ensure that no young person misses out on their education because they have their period and lack access to menstrual products.

The Red Box Project started three years ago, in Portsmouth, and has provided more than 5,000 red boxes to schools and other educational settings across the UK, ensuring young people have access to menstrual products whenever they need them - no questions asked.

The Red Box Project has now closed its local projects in England in light of the new Government scheme (as it has already done in Scotland and Wales due to similar government initiatives there).

The Red Box Project will continue to operate in Northern Ireland as well as other countries overseas, until the time comes where no young person misses out on their education because they have their period.