Progress with period poverty from council
South Lanarkshire Council is progressing in delivering period products across all educational settings in the area.
Councillors at the Education Resources Committee meeting on February 14 heard of the success that the local authority is having in providing sanitary products to tackle period poverty.
Last year, the council agreed to a motion to consider the necessity, feasibility and implications of implementing a menstruation policy in the workplace. The council has also introduced policies and procedures outlining the implementation across all schools.
As part of the de-stigmatisation policy, schools and establishments ensure pupils are not negatively impacted by any absence due to menstruation.
Each school has a member of staff responsible for period products and menstruation and ensuring affected pupils can access work at home to keep up with their school work.
Councillor Mo Razzaq (Blantyre) praised the work done, and he said: “I would like to commend the report and the work that’s been done by the department.”
There are also free period products available across South Lanarkshire, in community centres, sports halls and other venues.
An app can be downloaded to find the locations where the free products are, the PickupMyPeriod app is available on iOS and android.
As well as this, you can order free products online to be delivered to your doorstep.
Councillor David Watson (East Kilbride West) questioned the number of locations for pickup. He said: “The public locations where period products are available, if I refer to ward nine there’s a large part of East Kilbride that’s not covered - the Stewartfield area - and I suppose the list has been updated but can I suggest we can use Stewartfield community centre and sportshall?”
Councillor Alistair Fulton (Cambuslang East), echoed these thoughts, and said: “Carrying on from what councillor Watson was saying, in my own ward and ward 14 we only have two areas for the public to pick up free period products. I’m just wondering if there’s any other areas they’ve looked at?”
Council officers confirmed that they will look into the availability of the products and explore introducing them in more areas.