Worcester Valkyries rugby players will help launch a new initiative to help women and girls to combat period poverty at their Tyrrells Premier 15s match against Bristol Bears at Sixways on Saturday October 27.
The Red Box campaign will be launched by Worcester Community Trust to provide sanitary products for women and girls who cannot afford them.
Four Worcestershire County Councillors have donated £400 to the Red Box campaign which has been used to make six red collection boxes.
Each of the boxes will be presented by a Valkyries player after the Bristol Bears match and the boxes will then be situated in different Community Centres across the city.
The boxes will contain sanitary products which will be free for women and girls who need them.
Roy Davies, Valkyries Head Coach, said: “This is a cause that a lot of our players are passionate about, and it was a privilege to be asked to support the Council in launching the project in Worcestershire.
“We are very aware of how many exceptional young women Worcestershire produces, so if we can help remove some of the barriers to them achieving their goals then that will be fantastic.”
Richard Udall County Councillor for St John’s said: “We know a serious problem exists in Worcester with period poverty, many girls and women simply can’t afford the costs of sanitary products, some are too embarrassed to ask for help.
“We hope the Red Box scheme will help to reduce both the problem and the stigma. I welcome the support of Worcester Valkyries and we thank the team for their help”.
The ten girls who made the boxes as part of a work experience initiative will be invited as guests to the match along with representatives of the WCT.
Valkyries will also have a collection bin at Sixways on Saturday for spectators to donate sanitary products to support the Red Box initiative.