Posted on 7th December 2018
Following on from months of work with fan reps across the EFL, the FSA is pleased to launch #TerraceTalk – a supporter-led mental health initiative.
Cherries back period poverty campaign
This is a story from the FSF archive – the FSF and SD merged to become the FSA in 2019.
Bournemouth fans are latest to back a UK-wide campaign to provide free sanitary products for women at football matches.
The Cherries Trust have announced their support for the “On the Ball” initiative, originally launched by young women in Scotland, and are lobbying the club to introduce period products at Dean Court.
“Period poverty is a growing issue and we’re delighted to do what we can to help,” said Cherries Trust secretary James Swyer. “As soon as we heard about On The Ball, the board all agreed we had to get involved.”
Huddersfield Town Supporters Association are another fan group who have supported the campaign as their club introduced free products in female and accessible toilets at the John Smiths Stadium back in September.
There are now more than 50 clubs signed up around the UK but the Cherries are unique in that it is fans, not the club who are providing the service. The Cherries Trust will be using its own reserves to provide the first batch of free period products around Dean Court.
James added: “We want AFC Bournemouth to be as inclusive as possible and if that means making matchdays a bit easier for a key segment of our fanbase, we’re in.”
The trust are now hoping a local business will come forward to sponsor the initiative at Dean Court to help sustain the service in future. Interested parties should contact the Cherries Trust directly here.
Co-founder of On The Ball Erin Slaven said: “We’re so proud of the fact our campaign is grassroots and fan led – The Cherries Trust have exemplified this in their move to provide free period products at Dean Court.”
Thanks to PA Images for the image used in this article.
