Free period products on offer at Leeds leisure centres
Free reusable period products are being handed out at leisure centres across Leeds over the coming months.Period poverty charity Freedom 4 Girls and Active Leeds have teamed up to give out items such as reusable pads at centres across the city throughout May, June and July.Visitors will be encouraged to swap their disposable products for sustainable ones, with donated items used to stock the leisure centres' period stations.At two pilot events held earlier this year more than 200 free sustainable products were handed out and 100 packets of disposable products were donated.
Leeds City Council said one in 10 girls in the UK cannot afford period products, and a lack of access can mean missing school, work and physical activity.Charlotte O'Byrne, from Freedom 4 Girls, said she hoped the events would help remove the barriers around talking about periods. She said: "The main reason [behind the initiative] is that it starts the conversation about periods, menstruation, what it means to be a menstruating person, and the fact that there should be period products available anywhere there is toilet roll"Its been so gorgeous the amount of people who have turned up [at the pilot events] and heard what was going on."It has been really well received. Not just by mums and adult women, but men, dads and young people have also got involved."
Salma Arif, the council's executive member for adult social care, active social care, active lifestyles and culture said: "It's more than just access to reusable and sustainable period products, it's about normalising conversations, building confidence and ensuring no one is left behind because of their period."
Events are taking place at the following locations: Kirkstall Leisure Centre – 21 MayArmley Leisure Centre – 22 MayGarforth Leisure Centre – 11 JuneRothwell Leisure Centre – 12 JuneMiddleton Leisure Centre – 25 JunePudsey Leisure Centre – 26 JuneScott Hall Leisure Centre – 9 JulyFearnville Leisure Centre – 10 JulyJohn Smeaton Leisure Centre – 16 JulyMorley Leisure Centre – 17 July
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