Free sanitary products will be available in secondary schools in a bid to end period poverty
The government has announced a huge step towards ending period poverty, by promising to make sanitary products available for free in all English secondary schools.
Chancellor of the Exchequer, Philip Hammond, will pledge this new funding at Wednesday's spring statement, which will take effect from September this year.
In 2017, charity Plan International surveyed 1,000 girls and women from the age of 14 to 21. From this survey they discovered that 1 in 10 had been unable to afford sanitary products, with 12% having to improvise their own hygiene wear.
The news has been welcomed as a huge step by campaigners who have been demanding action from the government for some time, amid claims that period poverty is currently causing young girls from low-income families to miss school days.
While we have to wait until Wednesday's spring statement for the full details of the funding, it's expected that the Treasury will fund it in full, with no restrictions. Meaning that the free sanitary products will be available to everyone and not just pupils who meet a certain criteria. This would mirror the current scheme which is already in effect in Scotland.
Calling it a "Victory for all those who have campaigned for an end to period poverty", shadow minister for women and equalities, Dawn Butler, said "It's a disgrace that period poverty exists in the sixth richest country in the world".
Hopefully, this is the start of ending period poverty in the UK for good.
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