Free period products will come to county as part of £10k scheme

Free period products will come to Oxfordshire after politicians agreed to go forward with a £10,000 trial.

Those facing 'period poverty' will be able to access the products in 18 libraries and eight children and family centres across the county.

This comes following a cabinet meeting on Tuesday (June 18) last week where the period poverty motion was approved by councillors after being tabled at a county council meeting in September 2023.

The trial was approved on June 18. (Image: Oxfordshire County Council)

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The products will be available to anyone who needs them in "larger libraries, libraries serving priority areas of deprivation, children and family centres, and for council employees in larger council offices".

Speaking out at the meeting, council leader Liz Leffman said: "I think it's important we make it widely known that this is available.

"We will of course make products available in our own buildings to people as well."

Fellow Liberal Democrat councillor Judy Roberts described the initiative as a "complex project".

Council leader Liz Leffman (left). (Image: Oxfordshire County Council.)

The £10,000 funding from the cost-of-living programme was approved by the cabinet on May 14.

The council says the trial therefore already had the funding secured and it will not incur any additional costs.

Officers say the trial will help the council understand period product provision for Oxfordshire and allow for a proposal to be put forward in the 2025/2026 Budget for long-term provision to "alleviate period poverty".

The trial will be "monitored and evaluated ensuring data is collected to track the uptake of products at different locations, feedback will also be sought from residents who use the products".