Women who are experiencing period poverty in Dumbarton and the Vale are set to benefit from a new scheme which aims to eradicate the issue.
Free sanitary products will soon be made available in selected venues throughout the area as part of the Scottish government’s £5.2million scheme to help “banish the scourge of period poverty” among young people.
West Dunbartonshire Council will receive £23,839 in March, £8,851 of which will be used for setting up and developing the project, while the other £14,988 will provide sanitary products.
The authority will also receive £59,953 for the following financial year 2019/2020.
Free sanitary products are already available in all primary and secondary schools in West Dunbartonshire as well as additional support establishments.
Read more: Stepping up the fight on period poverty
A report to the Community Planning West Dunbartonshire management board says the funding aims to make sure that woman who are in poverty can get hold of free sanitary products across the district, which are easy to access, and which won’t cause them embarrassment or shame.
The report states: “The focus for provision is on ensuring that those women who are experiencing poverty are able to access products, free of charge, in venues which are accessible and stigma free.”
The report also says that experience from delivering this scheme in pilot areas suggests that the best way to deliver this is by providing baskets or cloth bags, stocked with a variety of products, in publicly accessible toilets in various venues.
The proposed local venues are the Vale Centre for Health and Care, Alexandria Community Centre, Alexandria Library, Dumbarton Health Centre, Meadow Centre, Concord Centre and West Dunbartonshire Council’s headquarters at 16 Church Street, Dumbarton.
Read more: Period poverty legislation to be introduced at Holyrood
The report acknowledges that the council will need to raise awareness of this provision and make sure that products are available and accessible to those who need them most.
They propose to do this by advertising on both posters and through social media.
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