50% of Irish Menstruators have Experienced Period Poverty

Period Poverty impacts the lives of half of Ireland’s teenagers. This stark finding by student Clodagh Guerin urged her to change the stigma by establishing Anytime of The Month.

This student led social enterprise aims to alleviate the effects of period poverty through creating a network of friendly strangers distinguished by a pink and blue badge.

The driven activist Clodagh advocated on behalf of those effected which led to the Student Union building supplying free sanitary products in all bathrooms.

“This is a difficult time financially for so many people, and unfortunately it is in that climate that period poverty as an issue grows,” said Clodagh.

In early 2020, the project joined Enactus UL which is an international student led social enterprise society. This union led to the campaign transforming into a sustainable social enterprise.

By carrying out extensive research on the extent of period poverty in the local community, almost a third of participants found it difficult to pay for sanitary products.

A worrying 75% of people were revealed to have worn a sanitary product longer than the recommended four hour timeframe due to a shortage of money or a lack of access to products.

The organisation has now launched its website where people can become an ambassador to grow their network.

“I am so thrilled to launch The Anytime of The Month website,” said Clodagh. “It is the culmination of months of hard work and dedication.”

While lockdown may have caused a nationwide standstill of progress, the organisation continued to work on the website.

To become an ambassador, an individual purchases an Anytime of the Month badge or sticker which they display on their bag.

The logo means anyone in need of a sanitary product can approach the ambassador. The project aims to destigmatize periods and bring period poverty to national attention.

All profits raised by Anytime of the Month go to charity partner Doras which helps migrants and those living in direct provision in Ireland.

“We cannot wait to welcome more people into the network of friendly strangers as this project grows!”

For more information, see anytimeofthemonth.com or contact info@anytimeofthemonth.com