05/10/2026
According to international charity ActionAid UK, last year “more than one in ten (11%) women and people who menstruate struggled to afford period products” (2026).
The young people who come to us, whether through our youth work or supported housing, are at a higher than average risk of facing period poverty. Many of our young people are already struggling with school pressures, family life, mental health issues and even homelessness. Here at YMCA Brunel Group, this could look like:
- A new Thrive 16+ resident who has just left the care system and has arrived with her things in a bin bag.
- A young carer who spends their time caring for a family member, often a parent
- A 15-year-old girl who brings their only warm meal of the day home to their family after youth club
- A 17-year-old who has been kicked out of home and needs emergency accommodation
These young people have enough to worry about. Affordable period products shouldn’t be added to those worries.
We are placing collection boxes in some of our locations so that we can collect period products and share them out to our supported housing and youth clubs. We are also collecting monetary donations which will go towards period products and safe pain relief methods.
The Bristol Wing – we will have a collection box set up in our reception area of The Bristol Wing To gain access, press the buzzer and let them know you are there to drop off period products.
YMCA Bath Gym – we will have a collection box set up at YMCA Health and Wellbeing Centre which is downstairs in the YMCA Bath Hostel. Head through the main doors and you’ll see the door to the gym just ahead.
Want to leave a monetary donation instead? Donate directly to our Period Poverty campaign here: https://app.donorfy.com/form/UB93529OX8/2EDG0
