“With schools, colleges and universities going into their summer recesses, and the ever increasing cost of living it’s important for people to know that they can still access free period products from local venues across Renfrewshire,” said Natalie Don MSP.

Free period products are available in toilets and accessible toilets in a number of Renfrewshire and ONE REN venues including Renfrew Town Hall, Erskine Library and the Cargill Hall. A mobile app which was launched earlier this year can also allow users to identify locations across Renfrewshire and Scotland where period products can be accessed for free.

The PickupMyPeriod app currently links to over 700 venues in many communities where free products are available – and the number is expected to grow where further local authorities join the app. Scotland was the first country in the world to make period products widely available for free – firstly in schools, colleges and universities, then followed by wider access in communities. The PickupMyPeriod app builds on this world-leading work.

Commenting on the launch of the app, Social Justice Secretary Shona Robison said:

“The app is a fantastic tool that will help everyone who wants to access free period products for themselves, a family member or friend to easily find them in many places across Scotland.

“I’m thankful for the support of local authorities in the implementation of access to free period products in Scotland. Young women and girls have been crucial in developing the best ways to access products to meet their needs and I’m grateful to them for sharing their views.”

Natalie Don MSP added:

“With schools, colleges and universities going into their summer recesses and with the increase in the cost of living many women and girls may have difficulties accessing their free period products, that’s why it’s essential that information on relevant venues is so important.

“As we look towards the implementation of the Period Products Act, I am delighted that work undertaken on period dignity both locally and nationally continues to progress and welcome this new app as a tool which can support this.”

PickUpMyPeriod app available from: https://myperiod.org.uk/

Background

The Period Products (Free Provision) Scotland Act 2021 (“the Act”) places duties on Local Authorities and education providers to make period products obtainable free of charge for anyone who needs them. The Act will come fully into force by January 2023 at the latest and will ensure that everyone in Scotland who needs them can have reasonably convenient access to period products, free of charge, as and when they are required. In advance of this, free products continue to be available through Local Authorities’ voluntary provision and through the Period Products in Schools (Scotland) Regulations 2020.

Building on Local Authorities’ voluntary provision, Scottish Government funded Hey Girls, through their Education arm ‘My Period’, to develop an app (PickupMyPeriod) that allows users to identify locations where period products can be accessed for free in Scotland. The app is available to all Local Authorities to input their locations and, so far, the majority of Authorities are involved. For locations not listed on the app, information on how to access free period products should be available from your Local Authority.