Fight against period poverty continues in lockdown

Schemetohelpthoseinneed

STEPHEN BARK

A lot has changed since restrictions to stop the spread of coronavirus were introduced – but one thing that hasn’t gone away is the fight against period poverty.

South Lanarkshire Council provides sanitary products free of charge at public buildings and schools across the region.

But many of these buildings have had to close due to the ongoing UK-wide lockdown.

However, to ensure that women and girls in South Lanarkshire can still benefit from the Scottish Government’s Access to Free Sanitary Provision scheme, the council has partnered with Hey Girls to provide a next-day delivery service.

Hey Girls is a Scottish social enterprise which provides sanitary products for girls and young women from low-income families in the UK.

The scheme can be accessed through the council’s community wellbeing helpline on 0303 123 1009.

And Kay McVeigh, the local authority’s head of personnel services, explained how it can provide a range of products.

She said: “The council is committed to ensuring the Scottish Government Access to Free Sanitary Provision scheme can be maintained for those who need it throughout the pandemic.

“To meet that aim we are urging anyone who needs it to call the community wellbeing helpline to let us know.

“Having teamed up with Hey Girls and working with a team of around 675 volunteers, we hope to be able to deliver products to the door the next day, or in many cases on the same day.

“Packs include standard day sanitary pads, night pads, applicator tampons and regular tampons.

“But it can be modified on request.

“Our community wellbeing helpline can be accessed Monday-Thursday 8.45am-4.45pm and Friday 8.45am-4.15pm on 0303 123 1009.”