Health / Extra money to make free sanitary products more widely available
SHETLAND Islands Council is receiving £20,000 to increase the number of places in the isles where free sanitary products are available.
The funding is part of a £4 million programme from the Scottish Government to help roll out the initiative beyond schools, colleges and universities.
Last August, the SIC received £8,000 to make sanitary products available in local schools and colleges.
The additional funding will help make the service available in other public buildings.
A council spokesperson said: “The council is at the early planning stage of this, working with partners such as NHS Shetland and the voluntary sector.”
Announcing the £4 million initiative, communities secretary Aileen Campbell said Scotland was the first country in the world to provide access to free sanitary products.
“In a society as rich as Scotland, no one should have to suffer the indignity of not having the means to meet their basic needs,” she said.
“We also want to continue to reduce the stigma and address the overarching gender equality and dignity issues that affect everyone who menstruate, regardless of their income.”
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