REUSABLE sanitary products will be available free at several ‘pop-up’ shops in Inverclyde.
Inverclyde Council staff will be at Greenock Central, South West, Port Glasgow and Gourock libraries to provide samples to anyone who needs them.
Earlier this year Scotland became the first country in the world to make period products free for all by law.
The council has been carrying out ongoing promotion of free sanitary products and reusable items and already has an online service which has had 760 orders in the last six months. There are now also 128 venues with accessible supplies.
Councillor Natasha McGuire, depute leader of Inverclyde Council and vice-convener of communities, said: “As a council, we’ve really been at the forefront of making sanitary products free for those who need them and long may that continue, particularly in these challenging financial times with so many people struggling with the cost of living crisis.
“It’s wonderful that there is an online ordering system and nearly 130 local venues with stocks of supplies to make it as easy as possible for our residents to access period products as and when they need them.
“The pop-up shops in our libraries are another great idea by the council’s health and wellbeing service to try and reach even more people.”
Free, reusable sanitary products will be available at the following locations:
— Greenock Central: Tuesday 22 November from 12 to 2pm
— Port Glasgow: Friday 25 November from 12 to 2pm
— Gourock: Tuesday 29 November from 12 to 2pm
— Greenock South West: Friday 2 December from 12 to 2pm
Councillor Lynne Quinn, Inverclyde’s women’s champion, said: “Sanitary products can be very costly and create an additional and unnecessary financial burden for many families, something they can ill-afford in these trying times when many households are having to choose between things like heating and eating.
“I’m proud that as a council we have embraced the free period products initiative right from the very beginning and worked hard to ensure as many people as possible can access products as and when they need them.
“These pop-up shops in local libraries is another great addition to the existing offering but with an important emphasis on reusable products and all the financial and environmental benefits that comes with that and I would encourage as many people as possible to drop in, find out more from our knowledgeable staff and pick up free samples.”
Over the last six months, the council has distributed 3,894 disposable products and 1,503 reusable products.
Venues given a stock of free period products include 28 schools plus libraries, community centres, leisure facilities, GP surgeries, youth centres and the zero waste food pantries in Grieve Road, Greenock, and John Wood Street, Port Glasgow.
Provision of free sanitary products is funded by the Scottish Government in partnership with COSLA (Convention of Scottish Local Authorities) and Young Scot. For more information visit www.inverclyde.gov.uk/period-products.
