Free Sanitary Products for Orkney Schools

Free sanitary products are to be made available in Orkney's schools from the first day of the new school term (Tuesday 21 August).

From August 2018, the Scottish Government has made funding available to supply free of charge products for all female pupils who require them.

In general, the products will be readily available for pupils to access them when they need them from the medical room at their school although arrangements may differ slightly dependent on the school.

Information on the new scheme is being sent in the first week of term to all secondary girls and the parents of P5 - P7 girls. The letter includes a short questionnaire, which will be used for reviewing the arrangements after Term 1. No personal information will be gathered as part of this.

Evidence suggests that across Scotland more than a quarter of people in education have struggled at some point in the previous year to access sanitary products with some girls and young women having missed school or skipped classes because they didn’t have access to products.

The Scottish Government, local authorities and the university and college sectors have therefore committed to providing free access to sanitary products in all schools, colleges and universities in Scotland beginning from the new academic term.

Further information can be found on the Young Scot website.