So your period has started and you’ve had to take a pad or tampon from a friend. For most women, it's not the first time that's happened!
This may have been as you didn’t have any on you or unfortunately you couldn’t afford to buy any products.
This situation has to change! Sanitary products are now available for free. You can access both pads and tampons from the Students' Association (ECSA) and Student Services offices. Alongside this, products will be available in bathrooms across all campuses in the next few weeks. All students can access these products, to ensure the new scheme is inclusive to our students who identify as trans.
But why is this happening now? The Scottish Government have issued schools, colleges and universities, funding to supply students with free sanitary products. What we would like you to do is to start shouting about this new scheme. Let’s break the stigma around periods and start the period poverty conversation and recognise this is a natural situation that most people deal with every month.
The plan for the moment is:
- We've got stock of tampons and pads in each of the ECSA offices on campus - you can come in and help yourself to as much as you like
- The toilet vending machines will be changing over to a 'free dispense' so you can grab them there
- There will be stock available in Student Services offices too (in case we're out representing students)
- For the future, we're looking at how to order in full boxes of pads and tampons so you don't need to keep stocking up, as well as reusables such as Mooncups
If you have any questions
You can contact Beth Anderson, our VP Welfare at any point if you have any questions or suggestions about the scheme: beth@ecsa.scot or 0131 297 8878