Surrey first county council to provide free pads and tampons

"No one need suffer the indignity of managing their period without period products"

Author: Carol MusgravePublished 28th May 2021

In a first for county councils in England, pads and tampons will be provided free at selected council sites in Surrey.

A joint initiative between Surrey County Council and charity Binti International launches today - on Menstrual Hygiene day.

It will see pads and tampons being provided at selected libraries across the county - and in council buildings, including Quadrant House in Woking.

The council says it is to help start eradicating period stigma - and that no one need suffer the indignity of having to manage periods with products.

They are also encouraging businesses to donate products.

Katie Stewart, Strategic Lead for Equality Diversity and Inclusion at Surrey County Council, said:

"Surrey County Council is proud to be involved in this initiative in partnership with Binti International to provide equal access to pads so no one need suffer the indignity of managing their period without period products.

"We hope that Surrey residents will support this great initiative by donating products, and that businesses across the county will do so by providing products for their employees, so that more and more collection and donation points across Surrey can be provided.

"It's time for period dignity across Surrey".

Donations or collection boxes for picking up products will be available at libraries in the following areas:

Ash

Ashford

Ashtead

Addlestone

Banstead

Bookham

Camberley

Caterham Hill

Caterham Valley

Chertsey, Cobham

Cranleigh

Dittons

Dorking

Egham

Epsom

Esher

Ewell

Farnham

Frimley Green

Godalming, Guildford

Haslemere

Hersham

Horley

Horsley

Knaphill

Leatherhead

Lightwater

Merstham

Molesey

Oxted

Redhill

Reigate

Shepperton

Staines

Stanwell

Sunbury

Walton

West Byfleet

Weybridge

Woking

There will also be collection boxes available in Surrey County Council buildings at:

Quadrant Court - Woking

Consort House – Redhill

Fairmount House - Leatherhead

Woodhatch Place - Reigate

Ashley Park House - Walton-on-Thames

For information about donating, visit the Binti website.

For further information about SCC's initiative, visit the council's Surrey Matters page.

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