A CHARITY shop that displayed a shop mannequin that looked like a rough sleeper on its doorstep before it was destroyed by vandals has come up with a new idea.

Charity shop Amaze has used a mannequin made to look like a homeless woman on her period, accompanied by a sign that says: "For homeless women, it really is a dreaded time of the month." 

On the other side of the mannequin, there is a sign that reads: "Food or tampons? Food or tampons? Food or tampons? Food or tampons? Food or tampons? Food...?"

Co-founder and co-director of Amaze charity shop, Polly Reehal said: “The model on our doorstop may shock, but it illustrates the hidden problem that women with little or no money simply cannot afford to have a period.

“During homelessness I regularly faced an inevitable dilemma of choosing food over personal hygiene.

Worcester News:

"Sanitary products were sometimes an expensive luxury, beyond reach.

"With sanitary products costing an average of £13 for each period, and it being impossible to put off having a period until money comes in, choices could be very difficult.”

Polly believes that we are facing the greatest recession since records began and that families are under a great deal of financial pressure.

She added: “We urge everybody be made aware of this problem and then contribute sanitary items to their local food bank, or via any of the normal shop donation points, for collection, free of charge, by any woman in need.”

Over the last couple of months, Amaze's owners have been using mannequins to inform passersby about different struggles that rough sleepers face.

READ MORE: Defiant charity shop owner reinstates mannequin with a new display

A spokesman from Amaze, in Richmond Road, said: "Period poverty is an issue affecting those who don’t have access to the safe, hygienic menstrual products they need, and/or who are unable to manage their periods with dignity.  

"The root cause of applying the 'luxury item' label to essential period products in this country is still a culture stuck in a mindset of Victorian misogyny.

"Ultimately, period poverty is something that affects all of us in some way. If we are to be a society that respects human dignity and equality then the discrimination and humiliation of period poverty is something we should all be concerned with.

"Nobody who is homeless should be using napkins from fast-food restaurants and absolutely no family should ever face the challenge of whether to buy food or menstrual products."

Celia Hodson, founder and CEO of Hey Girls CIC, said: “Period poverty in the UK, or anywhere for that matter, is something many of us aren’t aware of or feel inherently connected to. It is something that we should be angry about. Poverty is happening on our streets and is something each individual can help to change.”