What’s the project?
A recent study from the University of Bristol surveyed 2,698 teenagers about their periods. Gemma Sawyer and her research team based at the University of Bristol have linked this to information from the Department for Education and found that participants with heavy or painful periods had lower school attendance and lower GCSE results. Now, the team are conducting workshops to figure out how to support students better.
This project aims to develop a policy briefing report and recommend key things that schools can do to help girls and people with periods to achieve their full potential. Recommendations will be shared with local and national government and schools/academies.
Find out more
Gemma is looking for 5-6 young people to attend a 2-hour online workshop to discuss their thoughts and opinions about menstrual health support in schools. This would involve conversations about what your schools are currently doing and if this is good or bad, suggesting other things they could do to help someone on their period or struggling with symptoms such as pain or heavy bleeding, and consider things that may hinder them being used or implemented (and if anything can be done to get around these).
Based on your suggestions (and suggestions from other groups as Gemma will also be speaking to teachers, people from councils, and menstrual health charities), the team will come up with an initial list of recommendations for schools that most believe will be useful and realistic. If you would like, these can be shared with you for written feedback, but this is entirely optional.
To be involved you must be:
- Between the age of 15 and 19
- Female or a person who menstruates
- Have a stable internet connection
- Be based in the UK
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You will be provided with a payment of £50 for the 2-hour workshop. Additionally, Gemma will provide a number of resources with more information about menstruation, including how to identify and manage difficult or problematic symptoms and how to advocate for yourself.
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If you are interested in this opportunity, please email [email protected] with brief answers to the following questions:
- What is your name?
- What is your date of birth?
- Are you based in the UK?
- Why are you interested in this specific opportunity?
- Please give details of any relevant experience
- Sometimes after talking about topics like mental health or wellbeing, people feel they need a little extra support or someone to chat to. What support do you currently have in place (e.g. supportive friends, family, health professionals or mental health charities)? Is there anything that the University of Bristol could do to support you or make your involvement experience better?
- How did you hear about this opportunity?
You are welcome to send your responses in audio or video format if preferred. If you need any help completing your expression of interest, you can get in touch with Gemma Sawyer ([email protected]).
5pm on Friday 21st November 2025.
Please note that the McPin Foundation regularly promotes opportunities on behalf of other institutions; we are not responsible for the continuation or contents of further correspondence with any project partners where we are not listed as the project main point of contact.
