A new campaign is getting underway this month to promote free period products and end the stigma around periods.
North Lanarkshire Council, in partnership with Lanarkshire Community Food and Health Glenboig Community Trust and GBT shotts, will continue rolling out period products to as many public places as possible, to help people feel more confident taking them.
Councillor Heather Brannan-McVey, equalities champion, said: “Normalising talking about periods can be so beneficial - not just for people who menstruate, but for their friends and relatives who are maybe uneducated on the topic and feel uncomfortable discussing it.
READ MORE: Nicola Sturgeon urges home working - here's why and who it applies to
“It's not something to be ashamed about and having open conversations can help to make it a less difficult topic, especially when it comes to younger people.”
One of the council's suppliers of period products, Hey Girls, has developed leaflets and resources about first periods that will be available in primary and secondary schools in North Lanarkshire.
An interactive online map has also been created to help people find free period products near to them.
Councillor Brannan-McVey added: “Throughout lockdown and beyond, our hard-working staff and volunteers set up an interactive online service to make it easier to find free period products, and even delivered them in-person to those who were shielding.
“The council's Period dignity campaign began long before the law was passed last year, and now with public spaces opening again, the team hope to expand the provision of free period products and end the stigma of embarrassment around them.
READ MORE: Gorbals in-person light switch on cancelled due to weather concerns
“By entering your postcode on the interactive map, you'll be able to see exactly where period products can be collected near you - completely free of charge - and you don't even need to be using the facility they're in, such as health centres, leisure centres or libraries.”
Anyone experiencing issues accessing products or who would like to suggest a facility or type of period product can email communitymatters@northlan.gov.uk
Comments & Moderation
Readers’ comments: You are personally liable for the content of any comments you upload to this website, so please act responsibly. We do not pre-moderate or monitor readers’ comments appearing on our websites, but we do post-moderate in response to complaints we receive or otherwise when a potential problem comes to our attention. You can make a complaint by using the ‘report this post’ link . We may then apply our discretion under the user terms to amend or delete comments.
Post moderation is undertaken full-time 9am-6pm on weekdays, and on a part-time basis outwith those hours.
Read the rules here