Free period products on offer at Leeds leisure centres
Leeds City Council said one in 10 girls in the UK cannot afford period products, and a lack of access can mean missing school, work and physical activity.Charlotte O'Byrne, from Freedom 4 Girls, said she hoped the events would help remove the barriers around talking about periods. She said: "The main reason [behind the initiative] is that it starts the conversation about periods, menstruation, what it means to be a menstruating person, and the fact that there should be period products available anywhere there is toilet roll"Its been so gorgeous the amount of people who have turned up [at the pilot events] and heard what was going on."It has been really well received. Not just by mums and adult women, but men, dads and young people have also got involved."
Salma Arif, the council's executive member for adult social care, active social care, active lifestyles and culture said: "It's more than just access to reusable and sustainable period products, it's about normalising conversations, building confidence and ensuring no one is left behind because of their period."
Events are taking place at the following locations: Kirkstall Leisure Centre – 21 MayArmley Leisure Centre – 22 MayGarforth Leisure Centre – 11 JuneRothwell Leisure Centre – 12 JuneMiddleton Leisure Centre – 25 JunePudsey Leisure Centre – 26 JuneScott Hall Leisure Centre – 9 JulyFearnville Leisure Centre – 10 JulyJohn Smeaton Leisure Centre – 16 JulyMorley Leisure Centre – 17 July
Listen to highlights from West Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
BBC News
30-07-2025
- BBC News
Award for Bradford breast surgery tattoo artist's work
The founder of a charity which offers breast cancer patients nipple tattoos after reconstructive surgery has been given a national award. Lucy Thompson, who runs the Nipple Innovation Project (NiP) in Cullingworth, Bradford, has received a British Citizen Award (BCA).The awards, dubbed the People's Honours, are for people who make an outstanding contribution to Thompson, who was among 27 people receive the accolade at the Palace of Westminster on 24 July, said: "It's the ultimate affirmation." The 35-year-old has been a tattoo artist for more than 12 years and set up the charity in 2018. "I run it on a volunteer basis," she said."We work very, very hard in and amongst our daily work and life commitments, to reach more people. "To have recognition, and an award, for all the hard work that we've done collectively over the past nearly eight years is just the ultimate reassurance that we're on the right track." About 300 patients are treated for breast cancer in Bradford each year, with the majority retaining their areola, the area of skin around the nipple, can be tattooed to improve its appearance after year the Bradford Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust announced a partnership with Ms Thompson's mother-of-one now helps train other medical tattoo artists around the country through her charity. Listen to highlights from West Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North.
BBC News
30-07-2025
- BBC News
West Ridings Care Home in Outwood placed in special measures
A West Yorkshire care home has been rated inadequate and placed in special measures after inspectors raised several Ridings Care Home in Wakefield, which cares for people with dementia, mental health illnesses and disabilities, has been told to make urgent improvements to its service by the Care Quality Commission (CQC).The CQC said the home had failed to report several safeguarding issues "appropriately" including one incident where a resident was "physically abused" by another in a communal area. Advinia Care Homes, which runs the home, has been contacted for comment. Inspectors said the home was not well led, having been without a registered manager for several months at the time of the CQC's visit in May. The report said a "lack of continuity" in leadership had "impacted on the care people received and staff morale".The regulator also highlighted instances of action not being taken when residents lost weight or needed follow-up health checks. 'Staff were kind' Residents were complimentary about the quality of the food and cleanliness of the home while talking to inspectors with some saying they "felt safe and enjoyed living" at West Ridings. However, some also said there were not enough staff to meet their needs, with one resident quoted as saying: "They don't have time to chat with me. Having a conversation would be helpful and nice to have."Linda Hirst, the CQC's deputy director of operations for the north, said: "Despite these understaffing issues, people and relatives told us that staff were kind when they did have time to speak to them."Leaders need to support staff to have the time to meet the social needs of residents as well as their physical needs."We have told leaders where we expect to see rapid improvements and will continue to monitor the home closely to keep people safe while this happens." Listen to highlights from West Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North.
BBC News
25-07-2025
- BBC News
Airedale Hospital domestic staff to vote on strike action
Hospital workers such as porters, security staff and cleaners are to balloted for strike action over what have been described as unequal working conditions, said a trade union. The GMB union said staff at Airedale NHS Foundation Trust in Bradford were angry because they do not receive the same pension, annual leave and sick pay terms as other colleagues since their roles were outsourced to AGH union said affected staff were treated as "second class workers" and urged bosses to "get back to serious pay negotiations". A spokesperson for AGH Solution said it offered "very competitive" terms and conditions for workers and said it wanted to work with the GMB to find a resolution. Joe Wheatley, GMB Organiser, said: "These workers are essential to the smooth running of the Airedale hospital."Without them patients would not be safe or seen."She added: "The last thing our members want to do is strike and disrupt patients lives, but we've been left with no choice." The strike ballot closes on 13 August, with any industrial action expected to begin in Kentrop, managing director of AGH Solutions Ltd, said the firm was committed to improving it as a place to work."Following recent negotiations with GMB, we further improved upon our proposal," he added. Listen to highlights from West Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North.
