Statement on Exercise of Functions for the Period Products (Free Provision) (Scotland) Act 2021

Access to free sanitary products has been in place in schools since October 2018 and in public buildings since October 2019. In addition to schools, 62 public buildings in Dundee currently provide access to free products including all libraries, community centres, food project/larders, etc. A number of these premises ensure access is available out with normal opening hours including evenings and weekends. We also offer a home delivery service of a wide range of products, including resuables, to all residents of the city.

Direct provision is also currently made to a number of targeted groups who may have additional barriers to accessing products including young children’s residential homes, young carers, from a number of NHS provider settings and other identified minority groups. 

A dedicated page on our website outlines the full provision available including a link to the online ordering form for home delivery and a dedicated email address for any queries around access to products. The webpage also provides information and links to the recently developed PickUpMyPeriod App which shows the publicly accessible locations across the city and associated information to enable access to products.

We will do this by ensuring that; 

• Products are free of charge and easy to obtain in publicly accessible premises and Dundee City Council education facilities 
• A reasonable choice of both single use and reusable products are offered 
• Consideration is given to respect and dignity in our approach  
• Consideration is given to those who may face additional barriers in accessing products 
• Public consultation(s) and community engagement is carried out to inform our provision 
• We communicate effectively what products are available and where these can be accessed 
• We regularly monitor and review the levels of demand and supply to maximise the impact of funding and support provided  

"This tackles gender inequality and period poverty head on, removes stigma and is part of a growing movement for more sustainable period products. We are committed to making sure free period products are easily accessible to everyone in our city." Councillor Nadia El-Nakla, Council Equalities Spokesperson

The Act requires each local authority to undertake consultations with children and young people and the wider public and use this feedback to publish our statement of intent. To ensure that the arrangements we put in place meet people’s needs we were required to consult with individuals who may either: 

1. need to use free products currently
2. need to use products in the future, or 
3. need to collect products on behalf of someone who needs to use product 

Consultation took place across Dundee schools and the wider community between November 2021 and February 2022.  Questions asked related to: 

• the current provision available including; where and what products had been accessed and how this experience had been in terms of feeling comfortable accessing products. 
• future provision focused on where people would like to access products and the preferences on choice of products given.  Also covered was whether people felt that they had particular personal circumstances which would affect the way in which products were accessed and suggestions around what could be done to help overcome these barriers to access. 

Dundee’s secondary schools distributed an online survey and received 629 responses. In primary schools, focus groups were conducted in all 8 secondary clusters with a total of 85 participants.  The vast majority of pupils were aware of the service and were satisfied with the current provision.  Key feedback was: 

• General awareness of the free provision and locations within schools is good, but around half of pupils do not know how to access products during weekends and holidays. 
• Single-use pads were accessed the most (88%) and are also the most requested product for future provision. 
• A third of pupils have not yet accessed the provision. When they do access products, most collect for immediate use only and under a third collect for both immediate and long-term use. 
• Embarrassment is the biggest barrier to accessing products. This is in line with toilets being the most preferred location, and display stands the least. 
• Reusables are used by few, but requested by around a third of pupils 

The online survey was available via the council’s and partners’ websites and a total of 152 responses were gathered from across the city with further input from targeted groups.  A wide range of age groups responded, the majority of  people were accessing products for themselves however a number were accessing for family members or for those who they had caring responsibilities.   

It was encouraging to note that the vast majority of those who had used the service had felt comfortable doing so and welcomed the choice of products made available.  Key feedback was as follows: 

• The most common method of currently accessing products is via online ordering for home delivery (61.8%), followed by access via school/university. Online ordering is stated as being the preferred way of access for future provision (79.6%), followed by educational establishments (59.2%). 
• Those who had not accessed the service (61.8%) stated that this was either due to a lack of awareness of the provision available and/or that they didn’t think they were eligible. 
• Single use products have been accessed the most (68.4%). In line with this, single-use products are requested the most for future provision, followed by specific reusable products. 
• The majority of those who had accessed products stated that they felt comfortable and dignified using the current service. 
• Toilets are the preferred location of products within premises and asking at reception areas the least preferred option. 
• Not knowing where to go was identified as the biggest barrier, followed by being unsure of eligibility, and embarrassment. 
• Those with health issues stated that a home delivery method of ordering was preferred. 

To further develop our arrangements for free period product provision, the Council shall; 

Maintain current the provision across our schools and community premises and monitor uptake as footfall in buildings is increasing due to Covid restrictions relaxing.  

Engage with premises to ensure they are fully aware of the requirements of Act and to ensure suitable dignified access is in place including where possible in gender neutral toilets.  Ensure resources required to signpost and/or aid a dignified method of access are available 

Update and refresh the website and Pick Up My Period app to ensure that anyone wishing to access products know where, when and how to do this, including increased promotion of our home delivery service. 

Continue with provision of the home delivery service as it was highlighted during consultation as     the most popular way to access products. As more providers of products move onto the market we will evaluate uptake, performance and costs to ensure we have the best option to meet our needs and deliver best value. 

Schools will include work around period poverty within Cost of the School Day Action Plans, expand availability of products within schools, including disabled toilets, and identify a suitable, dignified way for those who require access to pick up bulk products, particularly before school holidays.

It is clear from the consultation, that more awareness raising of this entitlement and provision of products is needed across the city. This has also been raised by neighbouring councils as well as the FE/HE sector, in particular Dundee & Angus College and Perth UHI. It is therefore proposed that we will collaborate on this by creating a joint funded post, initially for two years, as well as developing shared digital resources.  

Following the creation of the above post, a communication strategy is to be developed to raise awareness of availability of products including, social media and advertising campaigns, promotional material for display in premises, engagement with other services and partners to raise awareness in communities and more directly to targeted groups. Other key areas we would wish to cover within this work are: 

• Reduce the stigma and normalise menstruation, particularly for children and young people.  This in turn will reduce embarrassment, which has been identified by children and young people as the leading barrier, suggestions include empowering them by creating peer led groups.
• Raise awareness and knowledge of reusables, including the environmental impacts. 
• Promote the free provision to know where products are available, including for children and young people during weekends and holidays. Signposting to community provision via the Pick Up My Period app and through the home delivery service.

The Dundee City Council webpage  Free Period Products | Dundee City Council 

The Committee report including full consultation results can be found here: Committee Report and Consultation