Sanitary products to be free in hundreds of Glasgow council venues
Almost £600,000 of funding has been provided in Glasgow.
Free sanitary products will be available at hundreds of council venues as part of plans to tackle period poverty in some of Glasgow’s most deprived areas.
The city council’s education team is partnering with Glasgow Life, the authority’s cultural and sporting arm, and homelessness charity Simon Community Scotland to provide ‘period friendly points’ at 167 public buildings, including libraries and leisure centres.
It follows a commitment from the Scottish Government to increase the number of places where sanitary products are available, with a focus on those on a low income or in emergency need.
Almost £600,000 of funding has been provided in Glasgow.
A pilot scheme, at 15 community centres and libraries in the north west of the city, saw high demand and received positive feedback.
The ‘period friendly points’ are situated in public toilets where women do not need to ask for products. They include a range of sanitary products, new underwear and wipes.
Maureen McKenna, the council’s executive director of education services, said: “The partnership will benefit from the opportunity to access some of the most vulnerable Glasgow women and families who use the co-located services based within some of these venues, including Citizen’s Advice Bureau and Universal Credit support.
“The users of these services experience in many cases a high level of poverty, social isolation and poor mental health and wellbeing. The partnership will support this group by providing access to essential sanitary and hygiene products and thereby reducing the negative impact and stigma of period poverty.”
The project, which will be overseen by a full-time Simon Community Scotland staff member, will be rolled out over a three year period. Volunteers maintain the ‘period friendly points’ for the charity.
This move follows the introduction of a scheme offering free sanitary products in Glasgow schools in August last year. Supplies are provided by Hey Girls, a social enterprise, which also hands out educational material.
“The purpose of this commitment is to support equality, dignity and rights for those who menstruate and to ensure that lack of access to products does not impact on an individual’s ability to fully participate in education,” Ms McKenna said in a report to the council’s education committee