We are delighted to announce that our official charity Brighter Futures have partnered up with EqualityPERIOD, donating £500 towards the group’s community pop-up shop on Larne Main Street which ran from Monday 28th March until Saturday 2nd April.
EqualityPERIOD was initially formed in 2020 to address the issue of period poverty which had been greatly exacerbated by the pandemic. They distributed period care packages via local charities, health & social care teams, organisations and schools – including Inver Park which is one of the group’s ‘Here if you need’ partners.
While continuing to campaign for period equity in Northern Ireland, they were granted charity status and widened their remit to include emergency clothing bank support and family essentials packages containing basic items such as nappies, shampoo, soap, deodorant, toothpaste/toothbrushes, toilet rolls and laundry detergent.
With the recent community pop-up shop based on Larne Main Street, EqualityPERIOD were provided with an opportunity to reach more people in a face-to-face environment post-COVID and promote their role with Onus as Community Advocates for the Safe Place Initiative.
EqualityPERIOD founder Suzi said: “We are incredibly proud to have played a part in the successful campaign to make period products freely available in Northern Ireland’s schools, colleges and public buildings. Once legislation is implemented we hope it will finally remove the need for us to distribute disposable period products, however our work as a Hygiene & Personal Care Bank in the local area will continue.
Speaking on behalf of Brighter Futures, Strategic Advisor Sandara Kelso-Robb added: “We’re delighted to have been able to support EqualityPERIOD with another fantastic local initiative in the form of their pop-up shop.
“While many of us take having regular access to period products and personal care items for granted, there are many people and families within the Larne community who rely on support from EqualityPERIOD to receive what really are basic necessities.
“We’re delighted to hear from Suzi and the team that the pop-up shop was a great success and look forward to seeing more fantastic work from the group in the coming months and years.”
