MOLLY Fenton, from Cardiff, was among 26 exceptional individuals honoured with the esteemed British Citizen Award (BCA) at the Palace of Westminster. This recognition celebrates their outstanding contributions to society.
The Medal Presentation, held on Thursday 25th July 2024, saw Molly receive the coveted BCA Medal of Honour for Services to Healthcare (BCAh). Recipients are entitled to use the post-nominals commemorating their achievements.
Molly founded the ‘Love Your Period’ campaign to help tackle period poverty and stigma, after campaigning for girls’ rights from age 13. The campaign launched on social media in 2019 when Molly was 16 and remains poignant today. ‘Love Your Period’ is about creating a safe space for women and girls to know their bodies, learn what their normal is, as well as feel equal, educated, and empowered.
Molly uses social media for awareness around women’s health and rights and represents young women on UK-wide girls’ rights roundtables to ensure their voices are heard. Today, Love Your Period’s aim is to make sure that no girl has her right to education removed because of her period; destigmatising and desexualising the female body so girls can all be safe and as healthy as possible.
Molly’s projects include free period product drives, leading Wales In a UK-wide campaign resulting in 300 women and girls marching to 10 Downing Street to hand in period stories to support a working UK-wide period dignity scheme keeping girls in education. Molly has volunteered every day for the past five years, despite having to leave school before the campaign properly launched due to serious health implications.
Molly was presented with the BCA Medal of Honour by Dame Mary Perkins, founder of Specsavers who said: “Molly’s campaign over the last 5 years has helped women and girls to feel equal, empowered and educated. She has led Wales in a UK wide campaign called “Love your period”, aiming to give dignity to girls still in education. For such a young person Molly has made sure girls have a voice.”
The presentation, hosted by TV presenter Matt Allwright, was attended by BCA Patrons Dame Mary Perkins, Founder of Specsavers, and The Rt Hon Lord Dholakia. Following the ceremony, medalists enjoyed an Open Top Lap of Honour tour and a certificate presentation at another distinguished Westminster venue.
