Homeless Period Belfast and Lidl Northern Ireland are letting the public know how to get access to free period products.
The Period Products (Free Provision) Bill is currently undergoing Stormont review and is designed 'to secure the provision throughout Northern Ireland of free period products'.
Homeless Period Belfast was launched in 2016 by Katrina McDonnell when she set up the initiative after learning about a similar scheme in the USA and realising how period poverty was amplified for people who are homeless.
Mobilising an army of volunteers, Katrina’s project has distributed thousands of period care packs to a wide range of people in need, from rough sleepers and the homeless, to people who depend on food banks, refugees and asylum seekers to teenagers living in poverty and community youth groups.
Founder Katrina told Be about the 'menstruation matters' campaign and said: "We are calling on the government and the private sector to provide free period products. Our whole thing is that if every toilet can provide free toilet roll, then there should be free period products. 'Just like toilet roll' is our slogan.
"We need the cultural attitude to see this like toilet roll. Period products are for a biological function we have no control over, whether it is period poverty or being caught out, everyone should have access to those items.
"We have had huge success over the last two years with our campaign. Back in 2020 we won the campaign for free period products in all schools. Since September 2021, we have had free period products in all primary, secondary and special schools and more recently have [this latest] bill going through Stormont.
"It is for the universal access to free period products in all public toilets. That is to follow in Scotland's lead as they were the first country in the world to get free period products in all toilets."
Katrina added: "There was a lot of movement with the campaign but with everything that has gone on in political context at the minute - it has perhaps hindered or put the bill in jeopardy. It is still not quite clear what is happening with it.
"It is something that people need for period and menstrual health. We are trying to draft a letter to Robin Swann at the minute and show him all the examples of why it is a health issue.
"We are also working with the private sector, lots of bars and restaurants and cafes in Belfast, trying to encourage them to take on their initiative."
Last August, Lidl Northern Ireland became the first supermarket retailer in Northern Ireland to provide free period products to customers in need as part of a major new initiative aimed at tackling period poverty.
Backed by Homeless Period Belfast, the initiative offers Lidl Plus app users the opportunity to redeem a dedicated coupon for a free box of sanitary pads or tampons per customer each month and follows on from Lidl Ireland’s campaign which was launched in April 2021.
Katrina added: "We should really celebrate, it just shows that big corporates are making a huge progressive step to recognise period poverty and period dignity. People need to step up and take responsibility if they have the means to do it.
"I just think it's amazing that they have done this and we are collaborating with them and support the scheme.
"It sends a massive, powerful message out to the public and other big corporates that they are doing something about it. We hope that other supermarkets will follow.
"They are leading the way.
"With everything that has gone on with Covid, we've seen extensive job losses and an increase in poverty, increase in the demand of foodbanks, I think everyone who has the means should really take the responsibility to alleviate that kind of issue."
Eimear O’Sullivan, Senior Communications Manager at Lidl Ireland & Lidl Northern Ireland, added: "At Lidl, we were watching closely to progress on the issue in New Zealand and Scotland throughout 2020, and monitoring the progress of legislation in Ireland and Northern Ireland. In learning more about period poverty, and as one of the biggest retailers on the island, we felt we could a real impact on this key issue that’s affecting society and the communities we operate in.
"In April 2021 we partnered with Homeless Period Ireland and Lidl Ireland became the first major retailer in the world to offer free period products in stores nationwide to those affected by period poverty through our Lidl Plus app, and subsequently rolled this out in Northern Ireland when the app was launched in Summer 2021 in partnership with Homeless Period Belfast.
"We were conscious that not everyone who is affected by period poverty has access to a smartphone, so we also rolled out a donation programme to the Simon Community. Of course, we continue to offer free period products to all our employees in stores, regional distribution centres and offices region-wide.
"This initiative is fundamentally designed to support those who would otherwise go without or use less than suitable products every month, so if you need urgent access to period products, you can visit www.lidl-ni.co.uk/period-poverty to sign up to our period poverty coupon. You will need to also register for our Lidl Plus app, and you’ll then receive a coupon at the start of every month for a free box of pads or tampons."
A Department of Health spokesperson said: "The Department acknowledges the significant impact the lack of period products have on those who need them. The Minister very much shares the broad intent of the Private Member’s Bill to make period products freely available. Period products are, however, not ordinarily classified as healthcare products as menstruation is neither an issue that in general requires health treatment, nor is it preventable.
"The health impact also does not make the underlying issue – the lack of period products – a health issue. Instead, whilst supporting the general direction of the Bill, as the issues are more closely related to poverty and social justice, the matter falls outside of the scope of the Department of Health."
To find out out more about Homeless Period Belfast, visit them on Facebook or email thehomelessperiodbelfast@outlook.com.
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