Girls and young women across Carmarthenshire are to be given free sanitary products to make sure they do not miss out on education during their period.

All 97 primary schools and 12 secondary schools in the county, as well as colleges, youth groups and third sector organisations, will receive the products in a project being led by Carmarthenshire Youth Council.

More than 177,000 products have been purchased thanks to support from Carmarthenshire Council and the Welsh Government, which will be housed in ‘period poverty boxes’ across the county.

The council said the move would make sure that females did not miss out on education due to a lack of adequate protection, and hoped it would eradicate attitudes towards menstruation that it said made it a “taboo” subject”.

A local teenager is leading the campaign and said it was time that something was done to tackle the issue.

Councillors Emlyn Dole, Mair Stephens and Glynog Davies (back row) with support worker Heulwen O'Callaghan and Youth Council member Amber Treharne

“I am so excited to be leading the Carmarthenshire Youth Council period poverty project alongside Freya Sperinck as it is such an important issue,” said 15-year-old Amber Treharne, a pupil at Glan-y-Mor Secondary School in Burry Port.

“It is heartbreaking to hear about stories where girls are missing out on education due to not having sufficient protection whilst on their period so it is clear something needs to be done.

“I hope that this project does make a difference within Carmarthenshire so we can come one step closer to ending period poverty once and for all.”

'One in ten living in period poverty'

From now on, any toilet with the #PeriodPovertySirGâr logo emblazoned on the door will contain free products inside, while a social media campaign has been launched to drive awareness of period poverty - an issue that affects around 10% of teenage girls and young women.

“This is a very serious issue which is happening right here on our doorstep affecting education, health and overall quality of life,” said Mair Stephens, deputy leader of Carmarthenshire Council.

“Figures show that one in 10 girls aged between 14 and 21 living in the UK are unable to afford sanitary items, which is shocking.

"When we think about poverty, we think about food and housing, but this is a genuine concern, and the fact that periods are still a taboo subject for many makes it even more difficult to ask for help.

“This has to change, we need to start talking about it and we need to start taking action. I am extremely proud of the work that is being carried out by the youth council and hope the residents of Carmarthenshire will support their campaign.”

The distribution of the sanitary products - worth a total of almost £10,000 - began on Wednesday evening.

Carmarthenshire Youth Council is planing to set up a GofFundMe page so that stocks can be replenished as needed.