Aberdeen City Council is set to tackle period poverty with an investment of £40,000 across city schools for the provision of free sanitary products in 2018/2019 it was announced on, Monday September 3.
The programme, which goes live on September 17, follows on from the successful ‘Access to Sanitary Products’ pilot which ran in four local schools from July 2017 to June 2018. Locally co-ordinated by Community Food Initiatives North East (CFINE), the pilot saw Harlaw Academy, Torry Academy and St Machar Academy and Tullos Primary School take part.
Councillor Lesley Dunbar, Education Operational Delivery vice convener, said: “We are proud to invest £40,000 in a free distribution scheme across Aberdeen schools to ensure the dignity and wellbeing of our young people is enhanced.”
The investment is in addition to the Scottish Government’s distribution of funds to each local authority to implement ‘Access to Free Sanitary Products’ in schools until 31 March 2019.
Each secondary school will offer a range of free products including sanitary towels, tampons and reusable products and individuals who menstruate will be allowed to take as much of the items as they need. Primary schools will offer free sanitary towels.