A NORTH-EAST council vowed last night to do more to help eradicate period poverty.

Middlesbrough Council members unanimously voted to support a motion aimed at tackling an issue that affects women and girls across the North-East and further afield.

Recent reports show that some youngsters are missing school because they are unable to cope with the cost of their period, while women are said to be skipping college or work for the sake of a tampon or towel.

Foodbanks, campaigners and groups fighting poverty in the region are working tirelessly to provide free sanitary products to those unable to afford them.

However, many believe a wider response is required, with the recently launched #freeperiod campaign pushing for the implementation of a scheme that would see women across the Tees Valley able to access free tampons and towels.

It echoes a scheme already being piloted in Aberdeen where women are given an ‘s-card’ that can be exchanged for sanitary products at pharmacies.

On Wednesday night, Middlesbrough’s councillors lent their backing to a motion that pledged the council’s “full support” for the campaign.

The motion said that the council would “commit to further work and explore how a similar scheme would operate and be funded in Middlesbrough.”

It added: “Middlesbrough Council believes that no woman in the Tees Valley should be forced into poverty due to her periods; no girl should miss school because of her period and no woman should miss work or college because of her period.”

Cllr Denise Rooney, who proposed the motion, told The Northern Echo that the council would be encouraging other authorities to discuss the matter.

She said: “The motion means that we will be using every endeavour to implement this across the authority in our public buildings.

“What we have to do next is to have discussions with senior staff as this will impact on budgets.”

Cllr Rooney added: “I have two daughters and two granddaughters and I don’t want any of them to experience the embarrassment or humiliation of being unable to afford sanitary products.

“I want our young women to achieve and not be forced to miss school or work just because they can’t afford sanitary products.

“They are not a luxury and we need to be more open about how our bodies work.”

Emma Chesworth, from the #freeperiod campaign, said: "It was incredibly heartening to see Middlesbrough Council unanimously back the motion to support our Free Period campaign.

£t is the first positive step in our aim to tackle period poverty across Tees Valley.

“We believe dignity is not a luxury and that every woman and girl should be able to have their period with dignity.”