Order sanitary products online for free
SANITARY products are being made available to order for free online for women across Inverclyde in light of the coronavirus lockdown.
The council has teamed up with social enterprise Hey Girls, one of the UK’s main providers of period products, to ensure supplies are accessible while the likes of schools, libraries and community centres are closed because of the Covid-19 outbreak.
The local authority, which became one of the first in Scotland to provide free sanitary products to secondary pupils in 2018, is trialling a new online ordering system for women of all ages.
Councillor Natasha Murphy, Vice-Convener of Education & Communities and Inverclyde’s Young People’s Champion, said: “Inverclyde Council is committed to ensuring that none of our residents have to go without access to free period products during the coronavirus lockdown.
“Everyone has had to adapt in such a short space of time to the coronavirus pandemic and credit to the council staff who have been able to arrange for this online ordering system as an alternative means to access sanitary products and adhere to the stay at home safety advice.”
As well as the online delivery service, Inverclyde Foodbank will also have their usual supplies to add to parcels.
Councillor Lynne Quinn, Inverclyde’s Women’s Champion, said: “I’m delighted that, once again, the council is leading the way in trying to end period poverty by providing free sanitary products in this way.”
A range of products across four care packs are available to choose from.
To avoid multiple orders being sent to the same household and to ensure people get what they need, families are being asked to consult with each other before ordering.
The online trial is for an initial two weeks and then will be reviewed on an ongoing basis.
Products may take up to three weeks to arrive so if anyone has an urgent requirement for a supply they should contact Inverclyde Council’s Education Department by emailing admin.educationhq@inverclyde.gov.uk or phoning 717171.
To find out how to place an order, visit www.inverclyde.gov.uk/freesanitaryproducts.