Suthers on BBC and ITV news

Media coverage of school initiative to supply free sanitary products to pupils (Whole School - 21/01/2020)

On Monday 20 January, The Suthers School featured on BBC East Midlands Today and ITV Central News, as well as BBC Radio Nottingham and GEM 106 following the implementation of a government-backed scheme of making free period products available to state schools across the country.

Suthers featured in the day's coverage as our school has been providing free period products to our pupils for some time, thanks to the initiative of two of our pupils.

Head Girl Amelia (Year 9), and Student Ambassador Georgia (Year 9), were inspired by Amika George, an activist who started a campaign to get free period products into schools when she was 17 years old.

Amika was horrified at the number of girls missing school due to not being able to afford sanitary products, and decided to try and do something to change that.

Amelia and Georgia were aware that sanitary products were available on request from the staff office, however both girls thought an easier and more dignified solution would be if the products were freely available in the pupils' toilets without having to ask a member of staff.

Amelia said:

“Sometimes they can be quite expensive for people to afford, but having free access to them at school is great because you might not always have that money to spare.”

Suthers was recognised as being one of the first schools to offer free period products to its pupils before the national scheme was implemented.

Watch ITV reporter Catherine Reid's full report here: https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=1013439835678355