Period poverty scheme says hello to new funding

A social enterprise aimed at tackling period poverty is one of six organisations chosen as part of a local authority contract valued at £3.5 million a year.

Hey Girls donates a free pack of environmentally friendly sanitary products to organi- sations in need, such as food banks, with every pack purchased.

The Dunbar-based organisation is now part of the Scotland Excel framework for washroom solutions and sanitary products across Scotland.

The four-year contract is expected to have a spend of around £3.5m annually. Other organisations included are four small Scottish companies and Rentokil.

Scotland Excel convener Councillor John Shaw said the framework would allow councils to access services and products including sanitary protection for school pupils as well as disposal of nappy, sanitary, sharps and medical waste and the provision of sanitisers.

He said: “This follows the recent Scottish Government announcement to end period poverty by ensuring no girl at school has to face indignity and go without sanitary products because they struggle with affordability issues.”

The government made a £5.2m commitment this year to cover the cost of sanitary products for pupils.