Ending period poverty in High Peak

High Peak councillors have agreed a range of measures to help eradicate period poverty in the borough.

Figures show that one in 10 girls in the UK has been unable to afford sanitary products - which in many cases resulted in them missing school - and that even women in low-income employment are sometimes unable to afford products when balancing their household bills.

In January, the Government launched a scheme to enable and fund schools and colleges to order period products for those that need them. And Chepstow Town Council has set up a ‘dignity bags’ scheme for members of the public to donate items for distribution to women in need.

In High Peak, the Council say it has agreed to:

·         Monitor the take up of the Government scheme amongst schools and colleges in the borough and, if necessary, encourage participation

·         Investigate establishing a ‘dignity bags’, or similar, scheme locally

·         Consider providing seedcorn funding for the first two years of such a scheme through the councillors initiative fund

Fiona Sloman, Executive Councillor with responsibility for public health, said: "In a country as wealthy as Britain period poverty is a scandal that should be ended.

"I’m delighted that the Council has unanimously agreed to take action to address this in the High Peak by making sure our schools and colleges are implementing national initiatives and by investigating the options for a local scheme, such as ‘dignity bags’, so we can ensure no-one suffers as a result of not having the sanitary products they need."