A group of volunteers in Llanidloes has launched a campaign to tackle hygiene poverty in Powys’ schools.

Period poverty refers to having a lack of access to sanitary products due to financial constraints. It can cause girls to stay away from school and miss lessons or exams due to not having access to the products they may need. A lack of other hygiene items for both girls and boys can lead to exclusion or bullying and the group aims to tackle these issues as well.

Bags of Confidence members have been gathering donations of a variety of toiletries from the public in various shops in Llanidloes as well as from staff and visitors to County Hall and Gwalia Council Offices in Llandrindod Wells.

Some of the toiletries are freely available in dispensers within toilet cubicles so they can be accessed at the point of need. Others toiletries are free to those who need them just by asking a member of the school staff.

Cllr Myfanwy Alexander, Powys County Council’s Portfolio Holder for Learning and Welsh Language, said: “I am delighted to see that this new method of supporting young people has got off to a great start in Llanidloes. Learning starts with wellbeing and young people need to have confidence in order to thrive, in school and elsewhere.”

Cllr Rachel Powell, Powys County Council’s Portfolio Holder for Young People and Culture, said: “I am very much supportive of this scheme and I thank all volunteers for developing this provision. It is such an important issue that can affect all aspects of wellbeing, which can have detrimental long term effects, both emotionally, psychologically and socially.

“The support from communities and organisations has been incredibly humbling which demonstrates the strength of feeling for this project.”

The Co-op has become involved in the project as their member pioneer from Llanidloes, Zoe Brandon, is a key player in the Bags of Confidence team, as is Woosnam and Davies Newsagents owner, Trudy Davies and her teenage daughter, Sarah. Other team members work as volunteers in Severn Hospice as well as Powys County Council staff.

All of these businesses have collection boxes where toiletries can be donated.

The team is working towards rolling out the scheme to other schools around Powys as well as libraries and other public buildings where the products may be needed so that more and more children can attend school with Bags of Confidence to cope with whatever the day may bring.