Hope goes into hospital to help ward off period poverty

A campervan was admitted into the Royal Oldham Hospital - to dispense a boot full of female hygiene products to patients.

Upturn’s Hope on Wheels visited the gynaecology team from the out-patients department in a bid to aid women there and raise awareness of a problem that sees one in five UK females having to choose between heating and eating – and buying these necessities.

And joining them on a tour, which included visits to homelessness charities and women’s groups, was Dr Anita Sharma, whose Oldham charity Endometriosis Awareness North donated the products.

She said: “It is disturbing to see how many people visiting hospital are in desperate financial as well as physical need.

"NHS hospitals are now even opening clothes banks to make sure patients can return home in something warm and clean.

"People are being forced into desperate decisions around what they can afford, and this can have a major impact on what might already be frail health.

"We felt it was our duty to raise awareness of the plight of some of the most vulnerable people in our society.”

The period poverty project visited:

• The Fatima Women’s Association on Marlborough Road
• The Greenacres Community Centre, Galland Street
• GPD Josee Foundation and WTD on Crete Street
• The out-patients department, Royal Oldham Hospital - where the team were met and officially thanked by consultant gynaecologist, Mr Nagui Aziz

The visits were the latest in a series of trips made to disadvantaged areas of the borough, to both provide practical solutions to poverty and share advice on everything from employment opportunities to opening up your own business.

Upturn is also due to launch a programme named CROWN, which will raise the profile of women in business, offer network opportunities, and visit schools to mentor female pupils.
Maria Williams, HR Director at Upturn, concluded: “Poverty is such a problem for some women that they cannot even afford the bus fare to Oldham to find work or learn about benefits.

"Isolation goes with all of the issues they are facing and that is why we have to take the message out to them.

"In this case, Hope has lived up to its name and truly engaged with those who are hardest to reach.”

Off road, Upturn runs The Hive, a coworking space for small businesses and social enterprises.

It also allows them to network together for the benefit of Oldham’s economy and unity.

To talk about The Hive or using the Campervan of Hope, email: info@upturn.org.uk

Learn more about The Hive by going to: https://hiveoldham.co.uk

For information on the Endometriosis Awareness North charity, go to: https://endometriosisawarenessnorth.com/

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