Free eco period products for Year 6 students across the island

Thursday 13 June 2024

All Year 6 girls in Jersey have been provided with free eco-friendly period products thanks to the 'Menstrual Cycle' – an annual charity bike ride.

Last year, members of the public cycled for 28 minutes or completed 28 laps of the Les Quennevais track to mirror the days of the average menstrual cycle.

The funds raised during the challenge allowed the Jersey Sustainable Period Products Project and Soroptomist International Jersey to purchase a washable period pad for every Year 6 girl on the island.

Soroptimist Christine Spink said: “Thank you to everyone who took part last June and we were especially pleased to have the support of St Michael’s Shell year group.”

Since 2020, the Jersey Sustainable Period Products Project has been working with the Education Department to provide all Jersey schools with demo packs of sustainable period products to use in their sex and relationship education lessons.

Pictured: Students from Helvetia House School receiving their free washable period pads.

The project also provides disposable items to allow students to make informed choices about what products they want to use.

Lindsay Woodward, Headmistress at Helvetia, expressed how her Year 6 students were "delighted" to receive their free packs.

Helvetia student Ella (10) described them as "very soft", whilst 10-year-old Malin said: "I like that they are washable."

Polly, Kyana-Mai and Xanthe said the washable pads were "very pretty", and 11-year-old Caitlin added: "It’s better for the environment!"