Surrey first county council to provide free pads and tampons
"No one need suffer the indignity of managing their period without period products"
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.