Laura Coryton grew up in a rural town far from London, never expecting to impact policy or change her country. While studying feminism at university, she started an online campaign to abolish the “tampon tax,” a discriminatory tax on period products. Her petition quickly gathered support, and after seven years of dedicated campaigning, it succeeded in January 2021 with tax removal in the UK. This victory highlighted the power of collective action and inspired Laura to address broader issues in sex education.
During her campaign, Laura visited schools across the country and discovered the need for better period education and support for teachers. She learned that many students were embarrassed to ask for period products and often missed school because of it. Recognizing the broader stigma around sex education, topics like consent and sexuality, Laura founded a social enterprise to strengthen sex education nationwide, especially after the UK introduced a new mandatory sex education curriculum in 2020.
Laura’s social enterprise SexEd focuses on providing comprehensive and inclusive sex education to prepare young people for real-life relationships. Her work aims to address significant issues such as sexual harassment and lack of awareness about menstruation, making a positive impact on society. Her journey as a fellow has been enriching, with mentors who help her think creatively and strategically. Laura advises aspiring social entrepreneurs to seek guidance, embrace failures, and apply to programs like the Y&Y Fellowship for invaluable support and growth.
