Lornshill Academy pupils launch campaign to destigmatize periods

Melissa Nelson, Clara Cassidy, Eris Thom and Holly Kinninmonth started their Period Warriors campaign to try remove the shame and secrecy surrounding periods.

Teachers Patricia Gillon and Victoria Gray planned the initiative with the girls, themselves becoming Period Warrior Ambassadors to support the students’ efforts.

The girls have increased the availability of period products in their school bathrooms and have employed teachers to store additional products in their classrooms.

Alongside Miss Gillon and Miss Gray, other teachers have taken on the role of Period Warrior Ambassadors and are promoted as safe people to turn to for help with periods.

Informational posters are put up around the school detailing period facts, the campaign’s objectives, and which teachers and pupils are a part of the campaign.

INITIATIVE: The girls have placed period products in school bathrooms for anyone needing them. (Image: Contributed) The group have also run assemblies to tell the students about the work they do and to educate them about periods.

Whilst they are happy with the progress they have made, a “bigger conversation” needs to happen.

 Melissa said: “There’s a big stigma around periods, people think they are very embarrassing when they’re not.

“We want to help more people to learn more about periods and get better at talking about them, as they’re completely normal.”

The S6 girls began their campaign last year when they realised their friend group discussed periods openly, but others did not. They discovered that for others, it was an embarrassing and isolating experience.

Since they launched the Period Warriors movement, the girls have seen an improvement. Students now approach them in the corridors for advice or to ask for products.

The young people of Lornshill now have more positive attitude towards periods.

The Parent Council acknowledged the girls’ achievement by awarding them Senior Team of the Year, an award that goes to a group of senior pupils who go above and beyond in achieving their initiatives.

Teachers from other schools have also been following the campaign on X (formerly known as Twitter), and the girls hope this means their movement will continue to grow and reduce period stigma in schools across Scotland.

After helping them found the campaign, Miss Gillon continues to praise the pupils for their vigilance.

She said: “They were the instant four girls we thought of to do this, and they’ve ran with the idea.

“They’re so passionate, they believe in it - it makes me proud to see them take on this challenge. I think it’s powerful.”

The Period Warriors and their ambassadors have high hopes for the upcoming year, and ask people to follow their campaign online at @periodwarriors on X (Twitter) to keep up-to-date with their mission.