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Free period products on offer at leisure centres

Emily Doughty
BBC News, Yorkshire
Leeds City Council Six people standing around a table containing reusable period underwear. The person on the far left is holding a box with disposable period products. Leeds City Council
Leeds based charity Freedom4Girls aim to end period poverty

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."

Getty Images Disposable period pad unfurled next to a pile of period pads. They are on a pink background next to flowers Getty Images
At the pilot events 121 pairs of period pants, 57 period swimwear and 30 reusable pads were handed out

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 May
  • Armley Leisure Centre – 22 May
  • Garforth Leisure Centre – 11 June
  • Rothwell Leisure Centre – 12 June
  • Middleton Leisure Centre – 25 June
  • Pudsey Leisure Centre – 26 June
  • Scott Hall Leisure Centre – 9 July
  • Fearnville Leisure Centre – 10 July
  • John Smeaton Leisure Centre – 16 July
  • Morley Leisure Centre – 17 July

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