Advertisement
Social Justice

You can tell MSPs your thoughts on free period products right now

A consultation has been launched on Monica Lennon’s bill to enshrine in law that period products must be made available for free in primary and secondary schools, colleges, universities and more

The campaign to tackle period poverty in Scotland has taken a step forward – and you can tell MSPs just how important the issue is as Monica Lennon’s bill has reached the consultation stage.

Holyrood’s Local Government and Communities Committee is asking for views on the Period Products (Free Provision) (Scotland) Bill, which was introduced by Lennon on International Women’s Day in April.

If passed, it will enable everyone who needs period products to access them free of charge through a Scottish government-run “period products scheme” while products would also be available in primary and secondary schools, colleges, universities and more.

Public views will help shape the next stage of the bill with a call for written evidence to be sent to the committee by November 5.

Lennon has been at the forefront of making Scotland a “world-leader” in ending period poverty. Writing exclusively for The Big Issue at the start of her period poverty campaign in 2017, Lennon told us: “If you are trying to survive on a low income, are homeless or have certain health conditions, talking about and managing your period isn’t just awkward, it can be impossible and messy.

Advertisement
Advertisement

“I’ve been using my voice to raise this in the Scottish Parliament ever since I was elected.”

If the bill comes into force, it will be the latest step forward for period poverty in Scotland.

Last week, the Scottish government marked the six-month anniversary of their current £5 million scheme to offer period products in schools, colleges and universities, reporting that more than eight million free products had been handed out.

Communities Secretary Aileen Campbell said: “It is important that we encourage people to challenge the stigma around periods and talk more openly about them. Removing the barriers to accessing period products helps that conversation.”

Our social investment arm Big Issue Invest has also played its role in tackling period poverty in Scotland by backing Hey Girls.

The social enterprise, run by Celia Hodson, were celebrating their partnership with Scottish football side Hibernian last week at their Women’s Champions League clash with Slavia Prague.

With the help of BII’s Power Up Scotland initiative, Hey Girls’ environmentally friendly and affordable products, which give a girl or woman a pack of products for every one sold, are now available in Waitrose, Co-op and Asda across the UK.

Advertisement

Change a vendor's life this Christmas

This Christmas, 3.8 million people across the UK will be facing extreme poverty. Thousands of those struggling will turn to selling the Big Issue as a vital source of income - they need your support to earn and lift themselves out of poverty.

Recommended for you

Read All
'Living is expensive': DWP winter fuel cuts forcing pensioners to choose between heating and eating
Chancellor Rachel Reeve standing at a podium and smiling
Winter fuel payment

'Living is expensive': DWP winter fuel cuts forcing pensioners to choose between heating and eating

Winter fuel benefit cuts will send pensioners to hospital, DWP warned: 'It's a political choice'
a view from above of an older person with white hair eating out of a pot
Winter fuel payment

Winter fuel benefit cuts will send pensioners to hospital, DWP warned: 'It's a political choice'

Ghosts star Charlotte Ritchie: 'It's a tragedy people can't afford their essentials'
Charlotte Ritchie at Trussell food bank
Food banks

Ghosts star Charlotte Ritchie: 'It's a tragedy people can't afford their essentials'

Is the cost of living crisis over and will prices in the UK ever come down?
Cost of living crisis

Is the cost of living crisis over and will prices in the UK ever come down?

Most Popular

Read All
Renters pay their landlords' buy-to-let mortgages, so they should get a share of the profits
Renters: A mortgage lender's window advertising buy-to-let products
1.

Renters pay their landlords' buy-to-let mortgages, so they should get a share of the profits

Exclusive: Disabled people are 'set up to fail' by the DWP in target-driven disability benefits system, whistleblowers reveal
Pound coins on a piece of paper with disability living allowancve
2.

Exclusive: Disabled people are 'set up to fail' by the DWP in target-driven disability benefits system, whistleblowers reveal

Cost of living payment 2024: Where to get help now the scheme is over
next dwp cost of living payment 2023
3.

Cost of living payment 2024: Where to get help now the scheme is over

Citroën Ami: the tiny electric vehicle driving change with The Big Issue
4.

Citroën Ami: the tiny electric vehicle driving change with The Big Issue