Lily Turnbull, a final-year student in the Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health at the University of Manchester, has been named Volunteer of the Year in recognition of her outstanding leadership and advocacy with the student-led project Once a Month (OaM).

Lily received the prestigious award for her exceptional commitment to addressing period poverty and menstrual stigma across Manchester, as well as her innovative contributions to expanding OaM’s educational and outreach work.

She joined the project in 2023, drawn by its mission to support those affected by homelessness and promote menstrual health education. After attending several period product packing sessions, Lily took on a leadership role as Social Media Manager. Her creativity and drive quickly saw her role expand, as she helped shape the direction of the project alongside a passionate team of fellow student leaders.

“OaM already had such a strong foundation,” Lily said. “But I saw an opportunity to grow the educational side — to raise awareness and challenge the stigma around menstruation.”

Along with Communications Manager Athena, Lily launched Periodico, OaM’s monthly newsletter. The publication covers key topics like the gender pain gap and advocating for menstrual health, and includes engaging content such as recipes, resources, and an anonymous advice column featuring real submissions from OaM members.

Lily also led a complete redesign of the OaM website, creating a new resource bank with support links for those experiencing mental health challenges, domestic abuse, or period poverty — further expanding the project’s reach beyond physical donations.

In December 2024, Lily coordinated OaM’s first off-campus fundraising event at Withington Public Hall in collaboration with local collective Sublime. The Period Poverty Fundraiser featured powerful talks from Manchester Women’s Aid, MASH, The Crimson Wave, and independent speaker Loz, who shared their experience as a trans cancer survivor navigating reproductive healthcare in the NHS. The event blended activism with celebration, with DJ sets from women and LGBTQ+ artists and art exhibitions from OaM volunteers. The team raised £300, but more importantly, created an inclusive space for dialogue and community-building.

Looking ahead, Lily is working with the OaM team to develop tailored hygiene packs for local charities, shaped by conversations with frontline workers at MASH. She is also supporting the handover to new student leaders, ensuring the continuity of key initiatives like Periodico and OaM’s community partnerships.

As she prepares to graduate, Lily is eager to continue working in the charity sector, whether professionally or as a volunteer. “I’ve really loved the communication side of this work — sharing knowledge, raising awareness — and I want to keep doing that wherever I can,” she said. “I’m definitely staying connected with the Manchester OaM team, and I can’t wait to have more time to dedicate to the project after exams.”

Lily’s recognition as Volunteer of the Year highlights the powerful impact of student-led initiatives and the role young people can play in creating change within their communities.