Free period products have been introduced in more public spaces in Wales as part of government plans to ‘eradicate period poverty’ by 2027.
Period products are now available free of charge in every school and college in Wales, alongside hundreds of other venues including leisure centres, food banks and sports clubs.
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The expansion follows the Welsh Government’s £3.2m commitment to the Period Dignity Fund. The fund aims to make period products freely available in public spaces, especially for people from low-income households.
Some sites providing sanitary products are also offering open spaces to discuss menstrual health, as well as offering free sanitary products, including ‘Reusable Period Product Parties’ in Flintshire which offer free reusable period cup kits, pad kits and period pants.
The Welsh minister for mental health and wellbeing, Sarah Murphy, said the government was ‘striving for period equity’ by providing products and facilities for people to manage their period and menstrual health.
‘By making free period products widely available across Wales, we’re not just addressing period poverty, we’re empowering women to participate fully in life without barriers,’ Ms Murphy said.
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‘Flintshire’s innovative approach exemplifies our vision for women’s health, creating environments where women’s needs are recognised and met.’
Last December, the women’s health plan for Wales was published and included menstrual health as one of its eight priority areas.
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The Welsh Government’s cabinet secretary for social justice, Jane Hutt, said period products should be ‘freely available’ to anyone that needs them.
‘I’m especially pleased to see period products becoming available during sporting activities, removing yet another barrier to participation,’ she added.
