TWELVE A YEAR

Twelve A Year raises funds for the provision of sanitary products (pads and tampons), painkillers and hygiene products (wet wipes), to homeless women. The female-run charity engages volunteers to hand-deliver the care packages to homeless women, across the city of London, with the view of expanding to other regions across UK. Twelve A Year also aims to form strong partnerships with homeless shelters and foodbanks.

Motivation:

• An average woman will have her period around 450 times in her lifetime.

• Dysmenorrhoea, otherwise known as period pain affects more than 40% of women on a regular basis.

• According to The Telegraph, “Period pain can feel as bad as a heart attack”.

• With the average period lasting 7 days, pain is experienced in lower abdomen, legs and lower back as well as fatigue and weakness; some women also experience diarrhoea, headaches and nausea for one or more days.

• Improper hygiene during the blood flow leads to further discomforting and painful conditions, such as urinary tract infection (UTI), fungal infections and in some cases infertility.

Given these facts, it is difficult to believe that around 700 homeless women in the UK endure this every month, without the necessary sanitary and personal hygiene products or painkillers. The average British woman spends around £3500 on sanitary products in her lifetime, which is simply unaffordable for those living on the streets.

The graph below shows the estimated number of rough sleepers in England, with women comprising 14% of these, according to the UK government.

Taboo surrounding the topic of menstruation means women are usually hesitant to seek the help they need. And when they do, it is often unavailable.

No one deserves the humiliation of bleeding publicly. These women need our help! Please donate and/or share the URL.