Free sanitary products offered for low-income women in government-backed scheme in Scotland

Shutterstock/Birgit Reitz-Hofm
Sophie Williams31 May 2018

Free sanitary products are to be given to women from low income households in Scotland.

The Scottish government has provided charity Fareshare with more than £500,000 to roll out the scheme to around 18,800 people nationwide.

It’s thought the distribution will begin this summer.

According to an evaluation of the pilot, which took place in Aberdeen, two thirds of the 1,082 women and girls who took part had difficulty accessing sanitary products in the past.

It’s thought that the pilot last year was the first national government sponsored effort of its type.

Equalities Secretary Angela Constance said: "It is unacceptable that anyone in Scotland should be unable to access sanitary products and I am pleased that we are able to work with FareShare to make products available more widely through the services delivered by their partners."

Head of FareShare in Scotland Gillian Kynoch said: "FareShare works with over 1,000 community organisations and charities across Scotland.

"We are excited to be working with the Scottish Government to use this network to make sanitary products available to people across Scotland."

In August this year, sanitary products will also available to those at school, college or university.

According to the Trussel Trust, out of 133,000 people who used Scotland’s food banks in 2016, “thousands” received sanitary products.

Additional reporting by PA.

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