Schools Providing Sanitary Products

[Sansastark45]

Don't get me wrong periods aren't nice at the best of time but don't our schools have enough on their plates without now having to take on this??

Am i being unreasonable to think that if you have a daughter you should be having the conversation with her?? Basic own brand sanitary products are cheap enough to buy - our schools shouldn't be left to deal with this too!

I'm more angry how on one.hand they acknowledge a problem but on the other then make it worse by removing single.sex.toilets.

I'm.pleased they are providing them
I'm.pissed fir the girls who now dont have anywhere private to go to the bathroom to use them

I think it’s a brilliant idea. There are a lot of households barely getting by currently and period supplies are expensive and if you suffer with heavy periods the value ones don’t always work that well.
Sometimes people only have 20 p i their bank account and literally can’t afford anything do you know how heartbreaking that is ?
I fully support this scheme in schools

I agree that it shouldn’t be necessary, but seeing as it is necessary, I’m glad it’s happening. I also think that compared to the teenage boys I knew growing up, the ones I know today are much more clued up, and less squeamish, about periods. So I do think we’ve made progress in removing that stigma (although obviously there’s some way to go).

Don't have kids you can't afford.

Yes. Because circumstances never change...

Those of you who thikn it should be means tested, do you also think the schools should only provide loo roll to those who receive FSM?

Or indeed a plaster to someone who falls over?

Nope. Thought not. Why is wee/poo ok to deal with but not menstrual blood?

I wonder. I just can't think.

@Bluebobolink - I agree - normalising sanpro is so important. I know so many women that wouldn't just get a tampon or pad out in front of people and feel it needs to be 'hidden'. As has been said it is just like toilet paper. I see no reason for a box not to be available in the toilets even mixed-sex. Let boys see it as normal too.

God, it's so important to have threads like this on Mumsnet to remind is that there are still ignorant, ignorant, selfish and hideous women in our country.

'Don't have kids you can't afford'
'Haven't schools got enough to do'
'Isn't that the parents job?'

Do you really think that every parent is kind, caring and provides for their children's basic needs?

Do you really think that every parent has access to a good value shop, and doesn't have to choose between food for their kids and sanitary items?

Do you really think that every parent has a working washing machine and could afford the initial outlay for disposable sanitary-wear, let alone clean it?

Do you really think every girl has enough towels etc to change when they need to?

What do you do if you are one of the unlucky girls who doesn't have access to stuff that our own kids take for granted?

My work runs regular events for girls from under-privileged areas. We fill the toilets with basic towels, tampons, knickers & tights every time and they go in SECONDS.

Thank god the majority of people aren't like some on this thread.

I think if you mean test something it becomes ‘well they get it for free why should I lend mine or fill a box’

As it isn’t as demonstrated in here there are schools, teachers, groups, colleagues all looking out for each other and donating as and when they can. Thinking of others.

Hopefully that kindness rubs off in future.

Watch 'I Daniel Blake'. Female character asks at a food bank for sanitary products and when none is available steals from a shop. This is based on reality.

Don't have kids you can't afford

Forced abortion?
Sex only for the wealthy? And I mean really wealthy not just on a good wage as you could lose your job

Has anyone seen liz kershaws tweet about period poverty?
The comments
It’s ok her grandma boiled her mums rags up for her. So there can’t be period poverty now as they just aren’t resourceful with mums (always mums never dads) who are boiling up their soaked rags.

I for one am glad this is happening. Helpful if a girl if caught short. This should have happened a long time ago.

I’d love to hear what her gran would say to that. Probability ‘I didn’t work to get ahead to shove other woman back’.

I can’t use bog standard cheap ones as the cotton or chemicals used make me irritated.... now imagine if you had the same issue and told well these are cheap do t be silly buy them... also there’s a pride thing for some of the women

Free sanpro in schools, fine with me. I do however draw the line at providing fancy branded sanpro to adults to spare their pride.

Liz Kershaw has always been a twat.

www.google.co.uk/amp/s/www.bbc.co.uk/news/amp/uk-scotland-46904775
Been available here in Scotland since last year. OP I’ll assume you’ve never been in poverty where it’s a choice to spend £2 on cheap food for your kids or sanitary products?

A really heavy flow - cheap pads that leak and feel like scratchy nappies. So it’s more like a fiver for a half decent period cover. More if you try to use environmentally friendly ones.

God, I haven't read the entire thread just first and last pages but how can anyone NOT think this is a good idea. I cheered.

Of course, I also noticed that when I posted on facebook about it my feed was like tumbleweed.

my parents were brilliant and sanitary products weren't an issue. And I STILL got caught out. Think how much worse it would be for girls from chaotic/poor homes? I think this should have been implemented basically from whenever public bathrooms with free toilet paper were invented.

Am i being unreasonable to think that if you have a daughter you should be having the conversation with her??

Not sure how having “the conversation” produces money for sanitary towels.

Anyway- it boils down to children are missing school due to periods and lack of sanitary protection so the schools are doing what they can to make sure those children can be in school.

The same way some teachers actually drive to children’s homes and pick them up so they get to school because for whatever reason, their parents can’t get them there.

The same way some teachers are buying books and pencils themselves because the money isn’t coming from anywhere else.

They’re doing what they can to get kids into school and receiving as much education as possible.

My parents weren't brilliant, and I often wadded toilet paper, used rags. And means testing would have meant that I wouldn't have been eligible.

No girl should have to suffer the indignity of the fear or reality of a period leak, or be avoiding school because of such. If schools can be funded, as being the easiest point of capture, to provide sanpro options, how could anyone possibly object? Really.

I am shocked by some of these responses.
I never fails to surprise me that some people really do live in a privileged little bubble where they can't possibly comprehend the many, many reasons girls might need access to free sanitary products.

It's eye opening to see how many people were like me, with parents who could afford pads but for various reasons didn't. When I was 13 and stuffing my knickers with tissue I felt like it was only me and it was a lonely place and the fear of getting changed for PE in white knickers with blood stains or having the tissue fall out (it did once on a friend's bedroom floor and she found it before I realised it fell out when I was getting changed). These experiences are real and these pads can do so much to reduce the occurrence .

I hope more parents are doing better now and providing for their children but for the ones who don't have access they need to provide them.

Not just you NerrSnerr. But just like you, I felt so alone, and embarrassed. And ashamed. Like I had been judged, and found lacking sufficient worth.

15% think it shouldn’t be free, how disappointing that some women can be this detached from reality, unaware of poverty, neglect, abuse etc that many kids live with, heartless selfish bints 😡

I think this is a good thing but I think it's a fucking disgrace that in the UK in 2020, there are people who can't afford to buy basic items like sanitary pads/tampons or who think periods are "dirty"