WEST Dorset is pulling together to end period poverty for young women.

The Red Box Project Bridport has taken off, with more and more people and businesses showing support for the cause.

The charity helps young women in the town, as well as Beaminster, Lyme Regis, Axminster, Seaton, Honiton, Sidmouth and Chard, by providing red boxes filled with free sanitary products to local schools.

A Valentine’s Day tea party, held at the Chapel in the Garden, was a huge success and raised more than £300.

Organisers Mickey Bonome and Cerri Killworth, who co-ordinate the project, say they are ‘incredibly proud and humbled’ by the community’s kindness - and say more businesses are now on board.

Mickey said: “Thank you to everyone who came along on Saturday, helped at the event, donated prizes, baked us cakes and to those who gave us the hall. WI Colmer and Beaminster groups baked loads of delicious cakes, the Chapel in the Garden was given to us for the afternoon and so many venues across Bridport, Beaminster, West Bay, Lyme and Axminster gave to our raffle.

“The lucky ladies who won the gorgeous large drip cakes, kindly donated by Fancy That Cake Co, have kindly donated these on further to the women’s refuge in Bridport and another community venture - so kind.”

New donation points include Gelateria Beppino in Bridport, St Mary’s Church in Beaminster and the post office in the village hall in Mosterton.

This is on top of existing donation points in Bridport at the TIC, youth and community centre, Red Brick Café, at the monthly vegan markets and Chapel in the Garden. Other points can be found in Beaminster, Maiden Newton, Lyme, Chard, Axminster, Seaton and Sidmouth.

It is hoped the project will spread even further, and Mickey and Cerri are calling on those who work at schools and youth groups to contact them if they would like to receive help from the project.

The project always needs more volunteers to help get red boxes out to schools, and Mickey and Cerri are always on looking for more donation points in the area - this could be supermarkets, hairdressers, cafés and libraries.

For more information, search ‘Red Box Project Bridport’ on Facebook.