Praise for period poverty provision in Moray schools

COUNCILLORS have today praised the roll-out of free sanitary products in schools.

All primary and secondary schools stock free sanitary products, including biodegradable and reusable products.

Funded by the Scottish Government, the provision of sanitary products in Moray schools aims to protect pupils’ dignity, offer choice about the products pupils may wish to use, and ensure products are easily accessible for eligible students throughout the year – both in term time and school holidays.

Gender equality is also an important consideration, and sanitary products are available to anyone who menstruates, including transgender men and non-binary individuals. Gender-neutral language is used during awareness-raising of the initiative.

Chair of Moray Council’s Children & Young People’s Services Committee, Cllr Sonya Warren, said the roll-out of the period poverty programme in Moray has been successful.

“It’s been almost an entire academic year since the first products were stocked in our schools and I’m pleased to see our pupils are making use of them. No-one’s education should be affected by periods, and I’m glad that having ready access to free sanitary products is making a difference to those pupils who may otherwise struggle to access them, at the detriment of their health, well-being and education.”

Famous for its colony of dolphins, fabulous beaches and more malt whisky distilleries than any where else in Scotland, Moray is a thriving area and a great place to live. Nestling between Aberdeenshire and the Highlands, Moray stretches from Tomintoul in the south to the shores of the Moray Firth, from Keith in the east to Brodie Castle in the west.