GIRLS from schools across Glasgow gathered to celebrate the roll out of a successful scheme to cut period poverty.

An initial scheme in four schools - St Paul’s, Hillpark, Castlemilk and Smithycroft secondaries - has been leading the way in stopping what can be a barrier to education for some girls.

Now the project, with backing from social enterprise Hey Girls and Glasgow City Council, is running across the city.

And yesterday S2 teenager ambassadors gathered at St Paul’s High School to find out how they can best lead the project in their own schools.

Head teacher Lisa Pierotti said: “We are delighted to host this amazing conference for all of our Glasgow secondary schools.

“Saint Paul`s RC High school young people have been involved in the pilot project and have now worked really hard with their teachers to organise the morning.

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“Together with the support of Maureen McKenna, Executive Director of Education, and Hey Girls, they have organised a range of super activities for the delegates to raise awareness of the issues around periods and then to help support schools to take forward period equity in their own establishments.

“There was a great buzz in the assembly hall as young people from across Glasgow came together to plan and to organise the next steps, ensuring that Glasgow is once again at the forefront of such an important health and well-being initiative and leadership opportunity for our young people.”

All girls in the three pilot schools took part in a short survey, which highlighted two areas of concern.

A total of six per cent of girls said there were occasions when there was no money at home to buy sanitary towels while 11 per cent said they had heard of or knew of someone unable to come to school due to having no sanitary protection.

Initially groups of girls were tasked with the responsibility of organising sanitary products in toilets but that has now been taken over by janitorial staff.

Councillor Jennifer Layden, City Convener of Equalities and Human Rights, said: "Our girls continue to amaze me and I’m so proud of the way that the schools have embraced this subject and shaped the policy to meet their school community needs."

Glasgow schools are provided with products from local social enterprise Hey Girls, which makes plastic free, sustainably sourced pads, tampons, cups and cloth pads.

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Hey Girls is also working with Glasgow schools to provide education around periods.

Founder Celia Hodson said: “It’s been a great pleasure working with Glasgow City Council to provide free period products to all students.

“The city has been leading the way from the beginning to distribute products with dignity.

“This conference is an amazing way of celebrating pupils’ voices.

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“They have been leading this project from the beginning - smashing stigma, and making sure this project meets the needs of young people who need it the most.”