Visitors and staff at leisure centres in West Leeds are being encouraged to make the switch to reusable period products.
Together with period poverty charity Freedom 4 Girls, Active Leeds are giving out free sustainable products at their leisure centres across Leeds over the next few months.
Their aim is to remove the barrier of periods when being active.
One in 10 girls in the UK can’t afford period products, and a lack of access can mean missing school, work and physical activity.
Staff at Leeds leisure centres have shared their experiences of how periods have impacted them at work, whether it is the fear of leaking, getting caught short and not having products with them at work, navigating perimenopause and irregular periods or struggling with feeling confident to do their job whilst on their period.
Over the next few months, Active Leeds and Freedom 4 Girls are providing the opportunity for staff and visitors to explore and take home sustainable period products, removing both financial and cultural barriers to physical activity.
They are also asking for help to stock the leisure centres’ period stations through donations of disposable or sustainable menstrual products.
At two pilot events that have already taken place, teams handed out 208 free sustainable products including 121 period pants, 57 period swimwear and 30 reusable pads.
Councillor Salma Arif, Leeds City Council’s executive member for adult social care, active lifestyles and culture, said: “This initiative is about more than just access to reusable and sustainable period products, it’s about normalising conversations, building confidence, and ensuring that no one is left behind because of their period.
“Following the success of the pilot events, we’re looking forward to rolling this out across more leisure centres over the next few months.”
Events will take place at Kirkstall Leisure Centre on 21 May, Armley Leisure Centre on 22 May and Pudsey Leisure Centre on 26 June along with others across the city.
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