Wrexham schools issued with free sanitary products in bid to tackle period poverty

Free sanitary products have been issued to schools across Wrexham County Borough in a bid to put a stop to period poverty in the area.

Last November Wrexham.com reported that members of the council’s lifelong learning scrutiny committee had agreed to install shelves with sanitary towels in all secondary schools and some primary schools.

It came as a result of funding awarded by the Welsh Government to the local authority to help tackle issues surrounding period poverty within schools.

In September last year 500 students from Wrexham secondary schools took part in a survey about the provision of sanitary equipment and feminine hygiene products available to them.

It found that more than a quarter of pupil respondents have had to take time off secondary school in the last year because of lack of access to sanitary products and more than a third of respondents in primary school.

Since then all secondary schools in Wrexham have received a delivery of products and the products supplied include a range of four types of towels and one type of tampon.

The information has been provided in a report published ahead of tomorrow’s executive board, which explains the work that has been carried out locally since the committee met last autumn.

This includes an update on the dispensing shelves, which received the backing of a majority of committee members at their meeting last year.

However due a procurement exercise finding the option would not be cost effective – along with mixed feedback from secondary schools – it was determined that shelves would not be provided “centrally to all schools”.

As a result all secondary schools received a share of the capital funding to allow them to develop local distributions or to make improvements to existing toilet facilities where it was needed.

Going forward the report explains that as a result of £96,507 being awarded to Wrexham Council back in March 2019, 10% of the total amount will be spent on reusable products to allow “maximum choice for learners”.

The report continues onto say: :Due to the increase in funding made available by Welsh Government, all secondary schools will now be receiving an increased supply of products throughout 2019-20 and all primary schools will receive delivery of a supply of products during June 2019, with additional products being made available throughout the year.

“The primary schools will only receive the four towel products to supply to their pupils.

“With the increase in funding allocated to the local authority, Welsh Government has requested that the initial funding of £9,247 for 2019-20 be used for distribution of products within the wider community.

“The Wrexham Foodbank has agreed to distribute these products and will receive an initial delivery in June 2019.”

All schools have been asked to feedback on the usage of the products, which will help shape future deliveries throughout the year and potential future procurement.