Award for Sheffield teenage campaigner against period stigma

Sabiha said she was passionate about campaigning against period inequality and stigma

A teenage girl has won an award for her campaigning efforts against shame and stigma around periods.

Sabiha, 16, won the Sheffield Youth Voice mental health and wellbeing champion award for her work.

Her achievements included setting up a "period bank" to help access to sanitary products and support, as well as campaigning for equality.

Sabiha said girls were "taught periods were something to be ashamed of and that has never made sense to me".

'Hide periods'

The teenager said her interest in campaigning started when she had helped set up a period bank at the Shipshape Community Hub in Sheffield, where girls could also get information and advice.

"I realised how passionate I really am about this," she said.

Sabiha told BBC Radio Sheffield that her family was "really open" about periods, but that not everyone in her community enjoyed the same level of support.

"When friends or girls I know from the community say they have to hide their periods, that they have to pretend to pray when as Muslims when we are on our period we are not meant to pray, that was one thing I think annoyed me the most," she said.

"It's men that we are pretending for - it's our fathers or our brothers. I don't think it's right."

Sabiha was presented with the Sheffield Youth Voice mental health and wellbeing champion award

Sabiha added that she thought the lack of support and information about periods for young women at schools was also a challenge.

She urged teachers and other adults to consider that if girls seemed upset or uncomfortable, they might be going through their first periods.

She encouraged people not to ask directly about periods, but to be "really caring".

"Young girls need to be cared for. Especially if you have just started your period, there are hormones everywhere.

"You have no clue what you are doing half the time, so it's helpful to have someone you can talk to."