Girlguiding welcomes government period product scheme extension

Girlguiding has today welcomed the news that the Government period product scheme for schools and colleges has been extended until the end of the 2026 academic year.

According to Girlguiding’s Girls’ Attitudes Survey, 75% of girls aged 7-21 are worried about the increased cost of living and 1 in 5 girls (21%) aged 11-21 worry about not having enough money for period products or period pain medication. Girlguiding hopes the extension of the scheme, which was originally due to end this summer will help to alleviate some of these concerns by providing access to products at school and at colleges.

Girlguiding advocate Charlotte 24 said:

“I'm very relieved to hear that the free period product scheme has been extended. Coming from an area of deprivation, I know that this will be a relief to young people who come from families that struggle to afford basic necessities. I'm grateful that the Government is responding to the needs of girls and young women, but would like to see a longer term commitment past 2026.”

In welcoming the move as a step in the right direction,  Girlguiding is also calling on the Government to evaluate access to products within education establishments under the scheme, the choice of period products and to make the scheme permanent.

In 2022, Girlguiding undertook research to understand girls’ and young women’s experiences and thoughts on the free period products scheme for schools and colleges in England. Sadly, over half (54%) of respondents said they felt uncomfortable asking for period products at school and 8 in 10 (80%) girls and young women aged 11 to 18 had not been  asked what type of period products they’d like provided by their school or college. As a result of this lack of engagement and consultation, there is a mismatch between the type of period products available and the period products young people want.

Girlguiding has spoken out about the issue of period poverty since the launch of its campaign and pledge in 2018, which saw a special End Period Poverty badge and activity pack launched to help tackle the shame and stigma around periods by changing the language used to talk about periods.

It was following a campaign by Girlguiding, other organisations and activists in 2020, that the Department for Education first pledged to provide free period products for all students in state-maintained schools and 16-19 education organisations such as colleges in England. The initial scheme has been extended twice previously. Following more recent suggestions that the scheme was at risk of being cut, Girlguiding supported Period Equity Alliance’s open letter to the Chancellor and  called for ‘Every school and college across the UK to have period products available throughout the school day, free of charge’, alongside 'comprehensive and inclusive RSE in schools in include period education and the open discussion of menstrual health to eradicate period stigma'  in its 2024 manifesto.