RESIDENTS are being asked to “throw in the towel” to end period poverty in Southampton.

Yorkshire Building Society in Southampton has urged people to throw the towel in to help the tens of thousands of young women regularly missing school every month due to period poverty.

The branch, on Above Bar Street, has become an official donation station for The Red Box Project, a charity which provides free period products to schools and colleges.

Contributions towards to the period product collection can be made up until Monday, September 30.

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, such as tampons and sanitary towels.

Jake Rogan, manager of the Southampton branch, said: “It’s shameful that young women are missing out on their education because of period poverty and we’re determined to do what we can as a community to solve this problem.

“Period products are not a luxury that should only be available to those who can afford them – they’re a necessity.

“So, we’re encouraging people to give what they can to help such a worthy cause.

“At Yorkshire Building Society, we passionately believe in supporting young people in need either through collections like this for The Red Box Project or through our financial education programme, Money Minds and our partnership with End Youth Homelessness.”

The Red Box Project was founded in March 2017 with just eight boxes and now has more than 5,200 Red Boxes in schools and education centres up and down the UK.

Clegg Bamber, co-founder of the Red Box Project said: “Research has found that at some point one in ten young women have been unable to afford period products, and one in seven has been forced to borrow money just so they can buy the products they need.

“Thanks to our campaigning from early next year, free period products will be offered to all young people in primary schools, secondary schools and colleges in England, under plans announced by the Government earlier this year and follows on from similar commitments already made by the Welsh and Scottish Governments.

“Until then though there is still a pressing need for us to provide support.”