Period kits given to students for sport away games

Period kits are being provided to student athletes at a university to "reduce anxiety and stress" around menstruating during sport.

Teesside University is giving the kits to its sport clubs to take on away fixtures as part of its Period Dignity campaign, which aims to help women feel comfortable enough to keep participating.

Volleyball team captain Samantha Soto Pupillo, a second year law student, said the kits would provide "extra reassurance" and "means students can focus on taking part".

"As an athlete, the last thing you want to be worrying about before or during a fixture is whether you have everything you need if your period starts unexpectedly," she said.

It could be more stressful during away games because "you are travelling and may not have easy access to period products," she said.

Head of sport Will Jones said it was not fair for the university to "assume every campus would have the same provision as ours" for women taking part in fixtures.

He explained each team would be given a small period kit bag to take with them, placed discreetly in their larger kit bag.

Student and library services advisor Vik Brown said: "Most young girls have grown up avoiding sport during their periods and excusing themselves from PE lessons."

However, she said sport and exercise could sometimes "reduce period pains and other uncomfortable symptoms".

"We hope to break stigmas around menstruation health, as well as barriers."

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