Shoppers have been heaping praise on Tesco for introducing a subtle new ‘white envelope’ scheme that aims to tackle period poverty.
With the number of people struggling to afford basic sanitary products sadly thought to be soaring amid the rising cost of living crisis, several UK retailers and supermarkets have introduced different initiatives aimed at supporting shoppers who need it most.
After a 2017 study by Plan International revealed that one in 10 girls can’t afford to buy menstrual products, and one in seven has struggled to access them in the past, the charity Actionaid has claimed that 12% of women in the UK are currently thought to be affected by period poverty.
Even though changes were made to the UK’s tax system back in 2021 to make it so sanitary products were no longer classed as luxury items – which affectively made them cheaper – this still didn’t make it possible for everyone who needed them to access them, especially as the problem spiked and became increasingly more prevalent during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Charity Bloody Good Period says it has been supplying six-times as many menstrual products compared to before the pandemic.
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Shoppers praise Tesco for subtle ‘white envelope’ scheme available in all UK stores / Credit: Erica Steeves (via Unsplash)
It was in part due to these shocking statistics that lead Morrisons to introduce its Ask For Sandy scheme, which encourages to shoppers in need to ask for “a package for Sandy” to receive free sanitary products, and it’s also what’s lead Tesco to follow suit.
Signs have been put up in the toilets at branches of the supermarket retailer nationwide urging customers to make use of its subtle ‘white envelope’ scheme.
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“To combat period poverty, Tesco want to ensure everyone has access to sanitary products,” one sign said. “If you are in need, please go to the customer service desk and ask for a white envelope. No questions will be asked.”
Shoppers have been praising Tesco for the move on social media.
Hi Naill, thanks for getting in touch. To answer your question, yes this is correct, all a customer needs to do is to ask at our customer services and there will be no questions asked, it's in a effort to tackle period poverty as they are given free of charge. TY – Ian
Responding to one customer who asked about the scheme on Twitter last week, Tesco revealed that to get a white envelope, “all a customer needs to do is to ask at our customer services and there will be no questions asked.”
They added that the scheme is, in fact, in “an effort to tackle period poverty” as the envelopes are given to customers free of charge.
Featured Image – Tesco
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Channel 4 is looking for Mancs who think they can survive the apocalypse for a new TV series
Lydia Mastrolonardo
Have you always wanted to see how long you’d last in an apocalypse?
Well now’s your chance, as Apocalypse is potentially coming back to Channel 4 for a second series, with producers having put out a nationwide casting call for contestants willing to take part.
The casting call simply reads: “Do you think you have what it takes to survive the end of the world?”
Described as a dystopian series designed to test the creativity, resourcefulness, and resilience of our nation, Apocalypse sees players are pushed out of their comfort zones and put to the ultimate test.
In the series, ordinary people are tasked with surviving for 28 days in an abandoned city – used previously only for the military to practice urban warfare – with no food, running water, electricity or heat.
Produced by The Garden – which is part of ITV Studios – for Channel 4, the show’s creators are now calling on Mancs and people up and down the country with the ‘courage and ingenuity’ to compete, to get in touch and apply for the potential second series.
Does your mate always bang on after watching a post-apocalyptic film that they would’ve done things differently? Or is the news at the moment freaking you out and you want to give the end of the world a bit of a practice run? Either way, sign up, test that plan you’ve built in your head, and see if you’ve really got what it takes.
Applications are now open, and all you need to do is fill in a short application form and one of the production team will get back to you if they would like to proceed. Come on, let’s prove what Mancs are made of.
Hundreds of katsu curries are being given out for FREE in Manchester this week
Emily Sergeant
Hundreds of katsu curries are being dished up and given out for free in Manchester this week, but only for certain people.
And those lucky people will be students.
That’s right… a new semester is upon us, and thousands of freshers and returning students are descending on the city and Manchester‘s many universities for another year. But the life of a student isn’t exactly the cheapest sometimes, especially for those who haven’t had to live on a budget before moving out or into halls.
But to make things a little easier, Tampopo has announced it’ll be serving hundreds of one of its most popular dishes for free this week.
Tampopo is celebrating National Katsu Curry Day in the most delicious way possible, by giving away 700 Katsu Curries with rice for free, exclusively to freshers and students this Sunday (27 September).
Whether you’re brand new to the city, settling back into uni life, or you’re simply in need of a katsu fix, students can head to their nearest participating Tampopo and tuck into a hearty meal without needing to spend a penny.
100 katsu curries will be available each from 12-2pm at both Tampopo restaurants in Manchester city centre – which are on Albert Square, and in the Corn Exchange – or if you head over to the Trafford Centre, both the Tampopo there and the East Street sites are taking part.
“[Our] Katsu Curry has long been one of our most-loved dishes, so National Katsu Curry Day felt like the perfect excuse to give students a proper welcome to the new academic year,” Tampopo said in a statement.
So, are you feeling hungry then? The offer is exclusively available for takeaway only to freshers and students with a valid student ID, which they must present on collection.
100 portions are available at each participating location, and just one free katsu curry with rice will be available per person.
Emily Sergeant -
28th February 2023 
