Women and fabric, Student mental health, Homelessness, Plastic-free periods

Available for over a year

Fabric has woven its way through the building of civilisations. Kassia St Clair, design journalist and author of The Golden Thread: How Fabric Changed History tells us about women's role in the weaving of cotton, silk, linen and wool. The Higher education minister Sam Gyimah says universities should ask students at enrolment for their permission to contact a parent or other trusted person if they are facing a mental health crisis. But as 18-year-old students are adult, and learning to live independent lives, how do parents and students feel about this? While the fight against single-use plastics like straws and shopping bags has become a mainstream issue, activists and environmental groups say disposable menstrual products are part of the problem and we need to focus on plastic-free periods too. We speak to founder of Bristol based City to Sea Natalie Fee and environmental science graduate, Jasmine Tribe. According to the housing charity, Shelter, the growing problem of homelessness is disproportionately affecting women. This is because single parent families are eight times more likely to become homeless than couples with children and 90% of single parents are female. Two thirds of families who are provided accommodation by local authorities are single mothers with children. Jenni speaks to Karen, about the problems she’s faced since her family became homeless and Polly Neate, the CEO of Shelter. Presented by Jenni Murray Produced by Jane Thurlow Interviewed guest: Sophie Flemig Interviewed guest: Natalie Fee Interviewed guest: Jasmine Tribe Interviewed guest: Polly Neate Interviewed guest: Kassia St Clair