Caerphilly Observer
Member Sign in Manage Membership
Become a Member - no ads
Menu
  • News
    • Senedd
    • Business
    • Newport
    • Opinion
  • Sport
    • Rugby union
    • Football
  • Membership & Subscriptions
  • Notices
  • Advertise
  • About
  • Sponsored Content
Menu

Calls to improve ‘period dignity’ and school toilet access

News | Nicholas Thomas - Local Democracy Reporting Service | Published: 16:13, Thursday June 26th, 2025.

Support quality, independent, local journalism…that matters

From just £1 a month you can help fund our work – and use our website without adverts. Become a member today

Caerphilly Youth Forum wants better school toilet access for pupils

Token-operated vending machines could help improve access to period products in Caerphilly County Borough’s schools, senior councillors have heard.

The system is one being considered by members of Caerphilly Youth Forum, which argues pupils should have more access to school toilets.

Many schools restrict when pupils can use toilets, and there have been issues around vandalism and bad behaviour, cabinet members were told.

But the Youth Forum argues pupils should be trusted to use the toilets safely and responsibly throughout the school day as a matter of “dignity”.

Pupils’ call for better school toilet access is ‘question of dignity’

It has made the issue its priority for the year 2025/26, and at a cabinet meeting on Wednesday June 25, members heard calls for change.

Cian Lancaster, who chairs the Youth Forum, said the group hopes to meet with secondary school headteachers later this year to discuss possible changes to the rules around accessing school toilets.

The matter can be especially distressing for female pupils who need to use period products, because they are often prohibited from taking bags into the toilets.

Younger pupils making the step up to secondary school can also struggle to understand why their access to toilets is being restricted, when primary schools typically have more relaxed rules, the meeting heard.

Youth Forum coordinator Lee Kabza told the meeting that the organisation had met with a firm which provides sanitary products in schools, to discuss the issue of “period dignity”.

“Imperative”: School runs campaign to help pupils learn about the ‘reality’ of periods

Some schools elsewhere use a token system which allows pupils to obtain a single period product from a machine – something Mr Kabza suggested could tackle issues around bad behaviour, where toilets are deliberately blocked.

Cllr Jamie Pritchard, the council’s deputy leader, noted school toilet access had been backed by around 800 young people as the Youth Forum’s priority issue.

He said there was “a groundswell of opinion behind it”, adding he hoped schools would take note of the forum’s work.

The cabinet members voted unanimously “consider how to support the Youth Forum in addressing their priority issue” for the year ahead.


Sign-up to our daily newsletter


Support quality, independent, local journalism…that matters

From just £1 a month you can help fund our work – and use our website without adverts.

Become a member today

Caerphilly Media

Latest News

  • S4C's headquarters in Carmarthen
    Westminster rejects calls for Senedd to have say on S4C chairTuesday, September 30, 2025
  • Aaron Ramsey has joined Mexican side Pumas UNAM
    Ramsey and Lawlor in Wales squad for England and Belgium match-upsTuesday, September 30, 2025
  • Is immigration really an issue for the Caerphilly Senedd by-election?Tuesday, September 30, 2025
  • Substation near The Square, Abertridwr, pictured in June 2025
    Substation’s beauty salon makeover plan wins approvalMonday, September 29, 2025
  • Mary Gittins with her Paralympic bronze medal
    Paralympian shares story of bowls bronze medal triumphMonday, September 29, 2025
  • First Minister Eluned Morgan
    First Minister to remain ‘ultimate judge’ of ministers’ conductMonday, September 29, 2025

Find out how the communities of Caerphilly County Borough get their names

Caerphilly

Legal & Public Notices

  • Notice of application for a premises licence: Hanbury Road, BargoedThursday, September 25, 2025
  • Notice of application for a variation of a premises licence: Pontygwindy Industrial EstateThursday, September 18, 2025
  • Caerphilly County Borough Council public noticesThursday, September 18, 2025
  • Caerphilly County Borough Council public noticesThursday, September 4, 2025
© 2009-2024 Caerphilly Media Ltd, Caerphilly Miners Centre for the Community Watford Road Caerphilly, CF83 1BJ. Incorporated in Wales No. 07604006.