Mum of two joins forces with Burnley MP in bid to lobby government to end 'period poverty' and make sanitary products free

And Sam Wright, whose Project Health and Hygiene has sent out a massive 10,000 'pamper packs' to vulnerable females across East Lancashire in just four months, has the backing of the town's MP Antony Higginbotham.

Sam is passionate about the issue and wants to press for the Prime Minister to follow in the footsteps of Scotland where the government have placed a legal duty on local authorities to provide free sanitary products to all women in need.

The MP went along to see the project for himself and was among the several volunteers who got involved with the packing of the final consignment to go out from the BEST Centre sports facility in Hapton that Sam owns with her husband Darren.

Sam also revealed that, starting in February, workshops will be rolled out across East Lancashire schools to help educate children about periods.

Sam launched Project Health and Hygiene after hearing the shocking statistic that 137,700 girls in the UK miss school because they cannot afford or don't have access to essential sanitary products.

And in September Sam, along with a team of volunteers and supporters, handed out an incredible 2,500 period 'pamper packs' across the town. The packs, funded by a National Lottery grant, contain sanitary products and items such as a body spray, facemask or mini lip gloss, mascara and other items that will provide a confidence boost.

But the heartbreaking stories that Sam, who is mum to Ella ( eight) and five-year-old Louis, heard while handing out the packs, including women having to use newspaper, socks and old t-shirts instead of sanitary products, has made her realise how desperate the need was

So she vowed there and then to continue with the project and appealed for businesses and the public to get on board with the scheme as lockdown saw the numbers of women in 'period poverty' triple with three in 10 females needing help.

Sam has now sent a massive vote of thanks to all the organisations who have helped Project Health and Hygiene including the Latter Day Saints charities who donated funds and even made 5,000 fabric bags for the products.

Sam said: "I would also like to give a massive 'shout out' to St John's School in Cliviger which has provided bin loads of products week after week to help support this cause.

"The headteacher, Naomi Healey, has supported this cause and her input has been invaluable."

Sam also thanked a group of childminders in Cliviger who made a group donation and also all the members of the public who helped.

She added: "All these people and organisations have collectively changed the the mindset of 10,000 females and if 10% of them have the confidence to live an easier life and have the confidence to follow through on their aspirations then I know I've done my job as a female.

"Coaches, parents, gymnasts and volunteers have all packed these bags, we are all female and understand the issues that are facing today's women."

Other companies who got behind the scheme include; MKM Burnley, Accent Group, Cols Creations Bakery, Lancaster Farms Prison, Tesco Burnley, Joanne Collins from Tropic and Victoria Whitham from The Bodyshop.

Sam has now urged all schools to take advantage of the free product scheme that is available to every establishment funded by the Department of Education. Full details of the scheme are available on it's website.