scotland paves the way to end period poverty

Graphic by Hermione Read.

On the 24th of November 2020, Scotland made history by becoming the first country, worldwide, to make period products free by law. The four year-long campaign, led by MSP Monica Lennon, has finally come to fruition in this tangible step towards combatting the effects of period poverty.  

To mark this political moment, founder of Period Poverty at Edinburgh University – Saffron Roberts – discusses why this bill is so important and what comes next.  

Can you tell us a bit about Period Poverty at Edinburgh University? What is the initiative and how did you come to found the organisation?  

I founded the organisation in early 2018 because I was really aware of the huge impact that period poverty has on those who experience it, in every aspect of their lives, and I really wanted to do something to help. We started off very small, just with me and a collection box from which I would distribute products to shelters and foodbanks in Edinburgh. I then began to attend events to speak about period poverty, was joined by Rosie and then Lauren, and together we ran collection drives and a Bloody Big Brunch. So, we are quite a grassroots organisation and we work on a very basic scale of just collecting and bringing products to those who need them, but it’s been really valuable over the last couple of years, and really rewarding to see just how many people want to get involved. 

How has Period Poverty got involved in the campaign for the Period Products (free provision) (Scotland) Bill? 

In early 2019 we provided a case study for the First Minister’s National Advisory Council of Women and Girls on Period Poverty for their Health spotlight, talking about the importance of reducing the stigma and increasing availability of products in Scotland. We also worked alongside organisations like Sanitree and Lilypads to share petitions, mobilise, and raise awareness of Monica Lennon’s incoming Free Provisions proposed bill. Much of our work, aside from physical donations to those in Scotland who need them, focussed on stigma-breaking and awareness-raising work, such as speaking at conferences and so on. 

Who will this bill have the greatest, positive impact on?  

This bill will be absolutely monumental for so many different groups of people, for example homeless women and women experiencing domestic abuse. But I think one of the biggest places this will be have an amazing impact will be young girls, who no longer have to feel not only the shame of not being able to afford products, but also will no longer have to miss school for their periods, or only be able to access free provisions during term time. This bill is a game changer for everyone, and I cannot wait to see it implemented. 

Do you think other countries will fall in line with Scotland on this law? 

I sincerely hope so. Now that Scotland has shown it is possible it poses the question to other countries - what is stopping us? In politics it sometimes feels like those at the top spend little time considering things like period poverty and we are hopeful that Scotland will inspire them to begin a conversation. Now that we have a framework for the law and its implementation, we hope it will give other countries the nudge they need to adopt it, or at least consider period poverty as a central issue to social justice. 

If you could, what would you say to the opposers of this bill? 

I would question why. This bill doesn’t mean that anyone is getting anything extra, or that they’re getting anything ‘for free’. It means that people aren’t being left behind just because they menstruate. They’re still having periods and all the difficulty that comes alongside that, but now they aren’t having the shame,  stigma and indignity that comes alongside not being able to access sanitary products; what is there to oppose about that? 

Now that this bill has been passed, what will Period Poverty at Edinburgh University work on in the future? 

I’ve said for a long time that I hope the day will come when we don’t have to exist anymore, which really seems to be happening and which I am thrilled about. But the more progress we’ve made in the last few years (free provisions in schools, in universities, and now for all) has made me think that there is still more to do. I would love to be involved in campaigning for this bill across the UK and further afield, or for us to be involved in menstrual education in a similar way to groups like Lilypads. All in all, we won’t be packing up just yet. We will continue to donate products until the bill comes into force, and we will continue to campaign for menstrual rights across the UK. We are excited to see what happens next.