Claire Dickson

QUBSU have launched a pilot scheme offering free period products on campus.

In September of this year, the Department of Education for Northern Ireland introduced a 2.5-million-pound initiative to provide free sanitary products in primary and secondary schools, in an effort to combat period poverty. This parity with England, Scotland and Wales was reached largely due to the campaigning of volunteer-led charities such as Equality Period NI and the Homeless Period Belfast, who have long advocated for the change. In a survey conducted by latter, it found that 60 per cent of teachers have had to buy period products for their pupils with their own money, while 74 per cent of pupils have had to leave a lesson, leave school, or miss a day entirely because of a lack of access to period products. In the view of these charities, products like tampons and sanitary towels should be provided in parallel with toilet roll and other essentials at school, in order to prevent absences from those unable to obtain or fund period items.

The issue of period poverty is just as prevalent in higher education as it is in schools. With many students already facing financial adversity, it is not surprising that some struggle to afford essential sanitary items, which in turn affects their mental and physical health while studying. Earlier this month, Queen’s University Belfast Students’ Union launched a pilot scheme in collaboration with the university’s Student Wellbeing Service and funded by the NI Department for the Economy, to provide free period products on campus for those who require them. These products can now be accessed in both the women’s and gender-neutral/accessible bathrooms on the ground floor of the McClay Library. It is hoped that as a result of the scheme, factors such as class attendance and concentration will improve, meaning students’ education as a whole will be positively impacted.

Despite these strides forward, it is clear that there is still a long way to go in eradicating period poverty in Northern Ireland. In January of this year, Scotland made a hugely progressive move, becoming the first country in the world to make period products free of charge. Under the Period Products Bill, a legal duty has been imposed on Scottish local authorities to provide free period products for “anyone who needs them”. Scotland’s forward-thinking attitude towards period poverty forces the Northern Ireland executive to evaluate the progress it still needs to make to combat the crisis.

In order to ensure those who have periods are given dignity during their time in education and beyond, fundamental change must be sought by addressing political representatives directly. According to Ellie Massey, a Member of Youth Parliament for East Belfast who played a vital role in the campaign to introduce free period products in schools, the most effective way one can do this is by “writing a personal plea [asking] for them to listen to you, [and to understand] why it’s their responsibility as a politician [to act].” Undoubtedly, an increase in student solidarity with the movement - whether that be by organising and lending support to protests and petitions, or by coming together to complete a donation drive - has potential to engender greater action by the NI executive on the issue.

With estimations from Plan International UK that one in 10 girls are unable to afford sanitary products, one in seven have to ask to borrow sanitary items from a friend due to financial reasons, and one in 10 have to improvise sanitary wear, it seems now is the pertinent time for the NI student population to step forward and be vocal about the period poverty crisis on our doorstep – if not us, then who?

Claire Dickson is a Culture reporter and Politics student at Queen’s University Belfast.

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