A nation-wide scheme ensuring no young woman misses school due to her not being able to access sanitary products has been launched in the area.

The Red Box Project is a community funded initiative encouraging women to sponsor a “Red Box” donation point at a school near them to keep it stocked with vital sanitary products.

So far, Harrow has one drop off point at the Rumble Tumble Children’s Soft Play Centre in Elmgrove Road and will open its first Red Box at Hatch End High School today (June 12). More are expected to follow shortly.

Harrow Times:

Information about how to find donation boxes will be advertised on posters placed in girl’s toilets and access will be managed by an appropriate adult.

The scheme is designed to support disadvantaged young women throughout their period and help overstretched teachers who take on the responsibility of helping pupils and stocking emergency sanitary items.

Harrow volunteer, Caroline Norcutt, said: “I’ve only been involved with RPB for just under a month, but I have several other ladies across the borough who are also gathering donations on behalf of the charity.

“My first Red Box will be going into Hatch End High School today, this is the first of what I hope will be many boxes in many schools in the area.

“The importance of the scheme for me is that as a community (and a nation) we have a fantastic opportunity to keep these young girls in education at all times, by the provision of sanitary products to meet their most basic needs.”

The Red Box Project, which started in Portsmouth one year ago, said the scheme is entirely funded by “community kindness, woman to young woman”, and now has over 400 red boxes across the UK and two in the US.

A spokesperson for The Red Box Project, said: “A young woman's education will shape her future. We strongly felt it was time for communities of women to step up, work together and help."

"We want to make sure this is the last generation of girls to suffer the indignity and embarrassment of period poverty."

For more information visit: www.facebook.com/theredboxprojectuk

Or to donate: www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/theredboxproject

To coordinate or support a red box: redboxprojectuk@gmail.com