Free period products in Scotland

[BlackForestCake]

Bit of good news among the shitshow.

The Scottish Parliament voted unanimously to fund public bodies to make free sanpro available.

Nicola Sturgeon tweeted that it was "an important policy for women and girls", like there was something special about women and girls that meant they in particular need period products. The awful T**F that she is.

This is good news, and with the added bonus of women and girls getting a mention

Children from abusive/ neglectful/unaware homes who cannot ask for/ may not be safe to ask for sanpro. People on low income, students, school kids etc. How do you target them all? Cheaper and more effective to offer to all.
Those who can't see this had a privileged upbringing where concern over where sanpro came from was a thing. As a child at one point I had no money, we got one meal a day and sanpro cost the same as a tin of corned beef. A tin of corned beef was 2 meals for a family of 6. Sanpro was never available. Make do and mend, but I can be glad no other girl will suffer this way.

I got a free packet of re-usable pads fro a scheme via my local council, there were 5 pads in the pack and they are amazing quality. This council also supply menstrual cups which is a bonus.

I expect most women who can afford sanitary products will go and buy them since it's generally more hassle to get hold of the free ones. I hope the scheme really helps those that need it. There have been pads and tampons in toilets in public buildings like community centres and libraries but not many people visit those places regularly.

I actually can’t remember the last public toilet I’ve been to (in Scotland) that didn’t have pads & tampons available for free

Library, sports centre, swimming pool, shopping centre, country park

Nicola Sturgeon tweeted that it was "an important policy for women and girls", like there was something special about women and girls that meant they in particular need period products. The awful TF that she is

What? Why bring T**F and trans into it?
Sounds a brilliant move to me, just wish everywhere else would do this and think it should be free anyway.
I mean, it's not like we have any choice to bleed every month and they can be expensive

I actually can’t remember the last public toilet I’ve been to (in Scotland) that didn’t have pads & tampons available for free

Lucky you, still have to pay in England - or if there are any free ones I haven't seen any and it still cost a pound or two for a tampon or pad.

“ What? Why bring T**F and trans into it?”
Well what NS is saying is tantamount to what Rosie Duffield said but I don’t see them baying for NS’s blood (no pun intended) like they are for Rosie’s

I can understand the need in schools.

But public toilets no. Sorry I think it another "here's what we'll give you vote for us". It's up there with all the other free stuff, baby boxes, top up benefits, they want to give.

Scottish education standards are dropping, the health care is dropping, more people have died of covid per head of population than England. Even the Unis want English students at the expense of Scottish students as we can't really afford free university.

Look deeper are where they scraping the money from to pay for it?

But public toilets no. Sorry I think it another "here's what we'll give you vote for us". It's up there with all the other free stuff, baby boxes, top up benefits, they want to give.

You don't get a choice whether you bleed every month though.
It just happens.
Not everyone can afford adequate sanitary equipment if caught short.
What do you suggest if they're caught short when out but no spare cash? Or none available at home?
Maybe take a couple of socks with you or something you hope will be absorbent on the offchance?
We can afford other things.
Surely access to sanitary products is pretty necessary

Seriously Scotland has better things to spend money on. Education help people get decent jobs to buy their own. Encourage business instead of discouraging.

Some free stuff I agree with Uni, Prescriptions, but other stuff no. Not when education needs investment, the NHS needs investment.

Theve been in the hospital, cafe and library around here for awhile... Boxes in the same area to donate too.

I donate to them

Education help people get decent jobs to buy their own

Just because you have a decent education doesn't mean you'll automatically land a "decent job" in order to be able to comfortably buy them every month?!
Surely rests on how many people you have living in your house who need them, teenagers etc, and how heavy their flow is....
Yeah!
Just get a job.
That'll solve it

FabulousGuineaPig obviously you’ve never been poor enough to have to make do with rolled up toilet roll and had to try and conceal it while doing PE at school. Plenty have and plenty do, it’s totally humiliating and I’m delighted to see that the this will eventually be a thing of the past, congratulations Scotland.

This thread is making me feel sad, I always had access to sanitary pads as a child (in other words age 12 onwards)
Never "got it" in my 20s or 30s either.
As an older adult, as flow has got heavier, and having to double up, and not always having loads of spare cash, isn't as easy as "they're cheap, deal with it, get a job or educate!"
Sanitary ware is essential, and not everyone can afford it.
Nothing to do with education levels.
Hope others take note and England follows, as well as other countries, would be nice.

Scotland's education standards have dropped. Less SEN provision than 10 years ago. We are lower in the PISA scale in every sector than England.

We don't have infinite amounts of cash. Every public sector in Scotland is cut to and beyond the bone.

Where would you rather invest your money?
If we had a top education system, plenty of spare cash by all means, give out free pads, but we don't. People get benefits it's up to them how they spend their cash.

What next free nappies, free toilet paper, free razors, free deodorant, free soap, free toothpaste - btw you can't get an NHS dentist in Scotland af the moment - but they can treat you if you have £37 spare in your pocket.
But hey ho we can afford baby boxes and fanny pads.

That quote of £37 was for a 3 yo to get a bit of plague knocked off his teeth. Who knows what a filling or anything would cost.

can understand the need in schools.
But public toilets no. Sorry I think it another "here's what we'll give you vote for us". It's up there with all the other free stuff, baby boxes, top up benefits, they want to give.

Well this kinda fails on a basic level, since it's universally free and not exclusive to people who vote in any particular way whatsoever.

Scottish education standards are dropping, the health care is dropping, more people have died of covid per head of population than England. Even the Unis want English students at the expense of Scottish students as we can't really afford free university.

Presumably you can provide sources for these claims? The Covid one is just flat out incorrect FWIW.

Look deeper are where they scraping the money from to pay for it?

The Scottish Government budget, the same place they find the money to pay for everything else from.

What next free nappies, free toilet paper, free razors, free deodorant, free soap, free toothpaste

Why not? a basic minimum of personal hygiene is surely a fundamental human right in a civilised nation in 2020. That doesn't mean that every single citizen has access to them, or means to purchase them, so why not lay them on free of charge? I don't have a problem with a tiny proportion of public money being spent on permitting people to stay clean and have healthy teeth.

I think you need to put the cost of these things into perspective. The cost of the free SanPro is neither here nor there when you are making points about the entire health and education budgets of the SG. It's the "Gaelic road sigs" moaning all over again. People complaining like it will bankrupt the country, when in reality it cost something like 50k initially, then 20k upkeep per annum. Never mind the fact Gaelic speaking people pay tax and are perfectly entitled to expect representation.

I note you can't answer the dentistry issue. If people can't afford personal hygiene products they can get from B&M.

Where are they finding the cash for dental care?

"Can't answer" ?

If private dentists are happy with their own risk assessments enough that they are comfortable opening and treating patients, then that's entirely up to them. I don't believe the SG should be forcing NHS dentists to carry out non-emergency work unless they can guarantee that there is absolutely no risk posed to the person by Covid. They can't do that, so the current policy is correct. Emergency treatment only.

Do B&M give away personal hygiene products free of charge to anyone who asks then?

You seem to be oblivious to the fact that there are plenty of people who either claim benefits and either have no access to that payment, still have to resort to foodbanks just to feed themselves, or the benefit simply doesn't extend to buying sanitary products, soaps, deodorants, toothpaste, toothbrushes, toilet paper etc once food and bills has been taken care of. They should all just lump it presumably?

I'd far rather not have to share a public place with people who stink and have rotten teeth, given the minuscule cost. That's even before the relief provided to people who are subject to financial abuse is factored in.

Where would you rather invest your money?
If we had a top education system, plenty of spare cash by all means, give out free pads, but we don't. People get benefits it's up to them how they spend their cash

We are talking children though aren't we? They have no influence over where their parents money goes.

I mean there's been plenty of threads on here where lots of women are still seemingly grossed out at the thought of san pro being visible in the bath room , or even being placed in a bin. They would rather their dds walked to the end of the driveway in the rain at 2am and use the wheels bin. How do you expect these kids to ask for something that's so clearly considered dirty in these households.

Besides aren't their organisations that will be helping/donating. Some companies do a buy one give one thing. And parents can also donate of they wish? Sure it might even be appreciated more than the class whip round at Xmas...

I hope England follows suit. And I bet no one would question if boys were getting free stuff . There were certainly a few comments that implied cos girls got pads boys should get something. Cant eveb have periods these days without having to make it all about men..

It's a great step forward to normalising periods. It should be as normal as toilet paper.

I'm a great believer In reusable products and hopefully this will begin to promote reusable pads and pants. As people will feel more confident about discussing there period and options available.

If scotland's so hard up, then they should remove toilet paper too then surely? Not hard to carry some with you, be prepared! It's not like you don't know you'll need to wee at some point etc..

I don't see the difference between having toilet paper in toilets, and having san pro in the toilets - they are both disposable items required when people use the toilet.

Oh, wait, yes, there is a difference, the only people who'll need the sanpro are women. So of course it's a waste of money to give them something they need for free in the place they need to use it :S

@Gingerkittykat

I got a free packet of re-usable pads fro a scheme via my local council, there were 5 pads in the pack and they are amazing quality. This council also supply menstrual cups which is a bonus.

I expect most women who can afford sanitary products will go and buy them since it's generally more hassle to get hold of the free ones. I hope the scheme really helps those that need it. There have been pads and tampons in toilets in public buildings like community centres and libraries but not many people visit those places regularly.

my council is also doing something similar but just started it, had a choice of period pants, moon cups or reusable pads

But this isn't just about free in school
I feel like I'm repeating myself , but
The average 12 year old doesn't have a job to pay for sanpro, and also doesn't only ever visit school when they are needed and there are these things called school holiday hth