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    An exhibition at the FBC Centre in Finchampstead will highlight the seriousness of domestic abuse. Picture: NoName 13 via Pixabay

    A free exhibition in Finchampstead will highlight domestic abuse

    Tense courtroom drama The Winslow Boy at Wokingham Theatre is based on a true story. PIctures: Simon Vail Photography

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    An event in Memorial Park, Finchampstead, will honour fallen heroes on November 9. Picture: Vijakob via Pixabay

    Finchampstead Remembrance Parade and Service invitation

    Clive Jones with Ming Campbell in the Wokingham MP?s back garden.

    Jones pays tribute to Ming Campbell

    At a WBC Executive Meeting on Thursday, October 16 at Shute End, councillors will decide whether to allow environment and health damaging product advertisements on borough assets.

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    An exhibition at the FBC Centre in Finchampstead will highlight the seriousness of domestic abuse. Picture: NoName 13 via Pixabay

    A free exhibition in Finchampstead will highlight domestic abuse

    Tense courtroom drama The Winslow Boy at Wokingham Theatre is based on a true story. PIctures: Simon Vail Photography

    Witness a tense courtroom drama in Wokingham

    Pupils at Finchampstead C of E Primary School will be able to access  access all aspects of the curriculum thanks to a generous donation. Picture: Finch CofE

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    An event in Memorial Park, Finchampstead, will honour fallen heroes on November 9. Picture: Vijakob via Pixabay

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    Clive Jones with Ming Campbell in the Wokingham MP?s back garden.

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    The A33 relief road is set to close overnight as part of rolling closures which will see some of the major roads around Reading upgraded

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    The Emmbrook School

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    Clive Jnes MP performed the opening of Ranga Lounge.

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    An exhibition at the FBC Centre in Finchampstead will highlight the seriousness of domestic abuse. Picture: NoName 13 via Pixabay

    A free exhibition in Finchampstead will highlight domestic abuse

    Tense courtroom drama The Winslow Boy at Wokingham Theatre is based on a true story. PIctures: Simon Vail Photography

    Witness a tense courtroom drama in Wokingham

    This week Kerry Godliman returns to Reading's Hexagon with the second leg of her latest stand-up show, Bandwidth.

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    London's New Players' Theatre Company, with Tom carradine on pianoforte, will entertain at Wokingham's Whitty Theatre on Saturday, October 4. Picture: New Players Theatre Company

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    Audiences can see Mozart's The Magic Flute, performed by Park Opera, at Wokingham's Whitty Theatre at the end of October. Picture: A Different Perspective via Pixabay

    Enjoy a night of opera in Wokingham

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Home Featured

Cotton Pony founder takes on period poverty

by Charlotte King
June 29, 2021
in Featured, Wokingham
period poverty

PERIOD POVERTY: Vaishali Patel offers reusable products

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TACKLING period poverty in Wokingham borough is the focus of a new non-profit.

Founded by resident Vaishali Patel, Cotton Pony is on a mission to stop period poverty in its tracks and protect the environment from single-use plastic.

The firm was launched in March 2021 after Ms Patel spent time learning about the impacts of periods when preparing for a hysterectomy.

She says it inspired her to open her own business after seeing how rife period poverty was in the UK.

“Wokingham is seen as an affluent area but there are parts which aren’t,” she said. “Period poverty is something I’ve always taken for granted but the more I read, the more shocked I was. I find it horrendous.”

She offers a range of reusable, eco-friendly period products — including free supplies for those in need.

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SEE ALSO: Red Box Project aims to help end period poverty in Wokingham

This includes reusable pads, period pants and menstrual discs. Customers can buy their own supplies, donate them to somebody else, or request products for free if they are in need.

Ms Patel said without access to sustainable period support, people up and down the country would barely get by each month.

“People are using dirty rags, they’re using toilet roll, they’re using newspaper, and this is in the UK,” she said. “This isn’t a third world country and I just find it really heartbreaking.

“Periods are not something we have a choice in and there are vulnerable people out there who don’t know how to get help.”

As a software manager, the Wokingham resident said this is her first venture into business, but she is loving it so far.

“I’ve become part of a community,” she said. “And to know I’m out there helping people with something so fundamental to them makes me so happy.

“If I can help just one person a month, it’s amazing.”

As a community organisation, Cotton Pony is open to donations from the public.

For more information, visit: www.cottonpony.co.uk

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