Aberdeen City Council’s continued commitment to providing access to free period products was agreed yesterday at a meeting of the Operational Delivery Committee.
Free period products have been provided by the council at 99 access points across the city (Access to period products | Aberdeen City Council) through a service level agreement with CFINE to alleviate period poverty since 2017, the report to committee said.
Convener of the Operational Delivery committee, Councillor Miranda Radley, said: “We are pleased to be able to ensure Aberdeen remains a period friendly city where everyone has easy access to products appropriate to their needs.
“We want to make sure that the last thing anyone should have to worry about is having enough periods products by making them easy to access for all.”
The agreed statement requires that all products are free of charge and easy to obtain, with the following commitments:
- A reasonable choice of both single use and reusable products are offered;
- Provision will be available in the community, as well as in education facilities;
- Due consideration is given to respect and dignity;
- Due consideration is given to those who may face additional barriers, including those who are BME, LGBTQ, disabled, homeless, victims of domestic abuse etc;
- Public consultation and community engagement is carried out to inform the provision;
- What products are available and where these can be accessed is communicated efficiently to citizens;
- Provision will be regularly monitored and reviewed.
Aberdeen City Council will continue to work closely with Police Scotland, Aberdeen City Health and Social Care Partnership, and other organisations to expand product provision.