South Cambridgeshire District Council is once again joining the fight to end period poverty by providing free environmentally friendly menstrual products for hundreds more residents.
The campaign has opened to tie in with Environmenstrual Week – which is currently taking place. Councillors agreed to champion the cause, to ensure dignity for all. A funding pot of almost £10,000 has been agreed for the project, which will offer South Cambridgeshire residents a choice of one of three period product packs - either washable pads, period pants or reusable period cups.
Hey Girls, a UK-wide social enterprise, will be distributing the packs, and residents can now apply online. The scheme will run on a ‘first come, first served’ basis until all of the free products have been provided.
The idea was unanimously agreed following a motion by Cllr Heather Williams in February 2024, to expand the District Council’s Cost-of-Living Support scheme to provide free sanitary products to those who may not be able to afford them, to address the unspoken daily challenges for ordinary people. The project was such a success in 2024 that it is being repeated this year.
Cllr Heather Williams, Leader of the Opposition at the District Council, said: “I’m so pleased to see the support for tackling period poverty is continuing yet again. The support from the public, councillors, and Council staff since I submitted my motion last year has been and continues to be, amazing. With all the changes to local government going on at the moment it’s important that we fight to ensure diversity isn’t lost in our councils. This motion that was supported across the whole chamber shows that things like tackling period poverty is supported across the board - but would a councillor have thought to bring a motion on such an issue if a councillor hadn’t been of my age and gender? Local government is full of hard-working people that want the best for their areas and for those that live here. I hope that tackling period poverty in South Cambridgeshire will never be forgotten, and while we all hope for a time that isn’t necessary, while people are in need of help, that help is there and ready.”
Cllr Bridget Smith, Leader of South Cambridgeshire District Council, said: “Everyone deserves access to essential period health products, free from financial barriers. By introducing reusable and eco-friendly options, we’re not only supporting menstrual wellbeing but also cutting down on the environmental impact of disposable products. This initiative marks an important move towards both health equity and sustainability."
We have joined more than 80 other councils across the UK who have signed up with award-winning social enterprise Hey Girls to help eradicate period poverty, improve access to quality products and increase education around period health.
Kate Smith, Chief Executive of Hey Girls, said: “Hey Girls is a multi-award-winning period product social enterprise. For every product we sell we donate the equivalent product to someone in need. Since the community interest company was established in 2018, Hey Girls has donated over 42 million period products.”
- An estimated 26,903 tonnes of waste, from disposable period products, is generated a year. This ends up in landfill or in our sewage system and sadly very often in our rivers and seas.