GILRUTH WELCOMES FREE SANITARY PRODUCTS FOR FIFE PUPILS AND STUDENTS

Published date : 27 Aug 2018

GILRUTH WELCOMES FREE SANITARY PRODUCTS FOR FIFE PUPILS AND STUDENTS

SCOTTISH GOVERNMENT IN WORLD FIRST

Fife MSP Jenny Gilruth has welcomed news that free sanitary products will be available to pupils, students and learners at schools, colleges and universities across the Kingdom thanks to £5.2 million of Scottish Government funding.

Delivering on the SNP’s Programme for Government commitment to fight ‘period poverty’ in Scottish schools, colleges and universities – this initiative makes the Scottish Government the first in the world to make free sanitary products available to all pupils and students.

Following a successful pilot scheme in Aberdeen last year, the Scottish Government also provided the charity, FareShare, with over £500,000 to distribute free sanitary products to women on low incomes across the country.

Commenting Mid Fife and Glenrothes MSP, Jenny Gilruth said:

“The Scottish Government’s £5.2 million investment in free sanitary products will allow students in Fife to remain focused on what matters – their studies.

“Basic sanitary provision is a right, not a privilege.

“The notion that anyone should struggle to buy essential hygiene products is simply not acceptable and we should be proud that Scotland is leading the way in the fight against period poverty.

“I would encourage everyone to get firmly behind initiatives like this, including the UK government.”

ENDS

Notes to the editors

In addition to the commitment for those in education, the Scottish Government is also providing targeted support for low income families. FareShare will receive more than £500,000 from the Scottish Government to distribute sanitary products to an estimated 18,800 people across Scotland.

Local Reporters, Glenrothes Gazette, Courier (Fife), HEALTH & SOCIAL CARE, EDUCATION