Period poverty is a lack of access to sanitary products due to financial reasons – and it is surprisingly common.
What was already an issue has grown substantially in light of the COVID-19 pandemic, with research suggesting that 30% of girls aged 14-21 have struggle to afford to access menstrual products during lockdown (Plan International UK, 2020).
Thankfully, a local charity is lending a helping hand to ensure that no-one should face this struggle alone.
Every Month is providing people with free access to menstrual products every month.
The packs, which contain an assortment of tampons, pads and a chocolate bar, are donated to food banks, charities and shelters across the country.
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Not only are staff helping people experiencing poverty across Manchester to have safer, more comfortable periods, but they’re also making a massive impact.
In 2020 alone, the charity distributed over 120,000 period products.
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Although Every Month was established a few years ago, 2020 was its most difficult year and a time when its services were needed most.
Due to the ongoing lockdown, the charity witnessed a substantial increase in the number of individuals requiring Every Month packs, and simultaneously finding supplies was a struggle as supermarkets placed limits on how many items could be purchased.
Typically making around 800 packs every month, this has increased to over 1000 due to the effects of the pandemic.
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However, this resilient local charity ensured that no-one would go without during the pandemic, raising their efforts to tackle period poverty in a variety of ways.
From hosting at-home packing parties to a variety of online fundraising methods, volunteers have continued to provide sanitary products to those most in need at this difficult time.
The latest fundraising event is the ‘Menstrual Miles Challenge’, which is to take place between 8-14 March.
Every Month is asking people to join volunteers in completing 14.5 menstrual miles, whether that’s by running, cycling, or any other way that they fancy.
This is also to celebrate the 120,000 tampons and pads that they have donated in the past 12 months, which is equivalent to 14.5 miles when placed side-by-side.
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If you are experiencing period poverty, Every Month is here to help.
You can find out which food banks and shelters they regularly donate to on their website.
Keep up-to-date with any fundraising activities and how you can help through their Instagram and Facebook.
What's On
AJ Tracey is playing a VERY intimate gig in Manchester next month
Thomas Melia
London rapper and respected grime artist AJ Tracey is ‘live and direct’ once again, announcing a whole host of UK dates, one of which is a rather intimate gig right here in Manchester.
It’s official: one of UK rap’s leading gents is getting back on the road and he’s showing a ‘Little More Love’ to lots of cities, including Manchester.
In a post on the UK star’s socials, AJ Tracey trades his music persona for that of a sports pundit as he announces the dates for his upcoming tour while impersonating an F1 commentator.
Anyone looking to attend Tracey’s ‘Not Even A Tour’ can catch the star up and down the country on his over 20-date tour with a stop in Manchester as soon as this month.
The rapper has reached phenomenal heights since dropping the unforgettable ‘Ladbroke Grove’ in 2019 and is heading out across the nation to make sure everyone knows about it.
Get ready to spit bars left and right as this rapper’s discography is stacked with serious tunes like ‘Dinner Guest’, ‘West Ten’, ‘Thiago Silva’ and more.
More recently, he collaborated with Walsall’s finest Jorja Smith for a flirty garage beat also known as ‘Crush’ with the video being the two artists talking it out in a good old fashioned caff.
The latest collaboration with Smith marks the start of a new era for Mr. Live and direct as it fell in line with the announcement of his third studio album.
Titled Don’t Die Before You’re Dead, we’re sure he’ll be “building a vibe” wherever he goes and probably previewing a few exclusive tracks from his upcoming project too.
This gig may come as quite a surprise for any hardcore fans of the ‘Ladbroke Grove’ star as the venue in which he’s performing is definitely intimate only, holding just over 250 guests.
This rap giant is bringing his unbelievable beats to none other than the legendary small-cap city centre live music venue, The Deaf Institute, at the end of this month.
It’s safe to say you won’t get many more chances, if any, to see him in such a tight-knit space again.
AJ Tracey is bringing ‘Not Even A Tour’ to Deaf Institute in Manchester on 30 April, with tickets on sale Friday 4 April from 12 noon.
Wet Leg are BACK and coming to Manchester very soon
Danny Jones
One of the best up-and-coming indie bands around is returning after what feels like forever, but it’s actually only been a few years; either way, Wet Leg are back and coming to Manchester.
Their self-titled debut dropped back in 2022 and was met with an overwhelming reaction, picking up three Grammy Awards at a BRIT for Best British Group at the first time of asking.
It did slap, to be fair.
More importantly, fast forward three years and they’re back with a release date for their sophomore record, moisturizer, a brand new single by the name of ‘catch these fists’, as well as a small handful of new tour dates – including a gig at a brilliant Manchester music venue, of course.
uk pre-orders of moisturizer from the official wet leg store before 3pm bst tuesday 8th april will get early access to pre-sale tickets for uk headline live dates. pic.twitter.com/KUvazSX6NY
The Isle of Wight-founded five-piece, fronted by charismatic duo Rhian Teasdale and Hester Chambers, will be heading out on a couple dozen live shows across Europe and the festival season circuit, as well as a one-off gig (for now) in the US at The River in LA.
However, just five of those are domestic headline dates, with the gang preparing to delight crowds in London, Birmingham and our friends over in Leeds.
Guess we’ll just have to go to both.
Here in Manchester, Wet Leg will be playing the cult favourite venue, O2 Victoria Warehouse, which just wrapped up this year’s BBC Radio 6 Music Festival programme.
As for the new album, moisturizer is due to release on 11 July, and from the small teaser we’ve been given courtesy of their new single, it sounds like there’s been some experimentation; the guitars and attitude are being dialled up even further, and they’re just as confident as ever.
An absolute jam, as expected.
Best of all, you don’t have to wait long to see them live again, as they’ll be heading out across the country just next month and are scheduled to arrive in Old Trafford on Thursday, 29 May.
Tickets for the Manchester gig and all other Wet Leg UK tour this May will be available for early access to those who pre-order the album online from 10 am local time on Wednesday, 9 April.
General sale goes live at the same time on Friday, 11 April. You can get ready to grab yours HERE.