Monica continues to campaign on this issue and welcomes input from campaigners and supporters regarding next steps.
E-mail: monica.lennon.msp@parliament.scot Call: 0131 348 6484 Write: Monica Lennon MSP, Scottish Parliament, Edinburgh EH99 1SP Follow @period_poverty on Twitter for updates Share your own stories/media articles using #freeperiodproducts
The following letter was submitted to MSPs to show support for the Period Products (Free Provision) (Scotland) Bill. This active participation and many other forms of support made all the difference to help pass the Bill through the Scottish Parliament and Monica extends her thanks to grassroots activists, period poverty campaigners and her colleagues in the Scottish Parliament who have been persistent, encouraging and supportive throughout the campaign.
Dear MSPs Support the Period Products (Free Provision) (Scotland) Bill Scotland has taken positive steps to tackle period poverty that we can all be proud of. To build on this progress, we are writing to ask for your support for the Period Products (Free Provision) (Scotland) Bill. We believe that period poverty remains a significant issue in Scotland, and that access to free period products for all who need them should become a legal right. The passage of the Period Products (Free Provision) (Scotland) Bill is an important step towards normalising menstruation and helping to end the stigma around periods. We welcome the progress that has been so far by the Scottish Government in partnership with local authorities and others, to provide free period products in schools, colleges, universities and in other organisations across Scotland. However, we believe that creating a statutory duty is necessary to ensure that this progress continues and that future governments cannot undo the work that has already been undertaken. The Bill has wide support across Parliament and civic Scotland, and we urge you to support the general principles of the legislation so that it can progress to the next stage of further scrutiny and opportunity for amendment. We agree with the principle that ensuring access to free period products to all who need them should be a right, and believe this Bill is an important step towards a fairer and more equal future. Women, girls, trans men and non-binary people who have shared their experiences of period poverty and who have given evidence should be applauded for their courage. The support from women’s and LGBT organisations, local government, colleges and universities, trade unions, students and youth organisations, health experts, charities and thousands of groups and individuals across Scotland reflects the widespread support for the Bill. We urge MSPs to support the general principles of the Bill and to work together on a cross-party basis to pass this legislation.
Yours sincerely,
Aamer Anwar | Lawyer & Rector of University of Glasgow Amika George | Founder of Free Periods Barnardo’s | David Ferguson, Assistant Director Policy and Influencing BEMIS Scotland | Danny Boyle, Senior Parliamentary and Policy Officer BINTI | Manjit K. Gill, CEO & Founder Bloody Good Period | Gabby Edlin, CEO and Founder, Bloody Good Period Children in Scotland | Jackie Brock, CEO Coalition for Racial Equality & Rights | Jatin Haria, CRER Executive Director CWU Scotland | Cyrenians | Disability Equality Scotland | Morven Brooks, Chief Executive Officer Educational Institute of Scotland | Andrea Bradley, Assistant Secretary Endometriosis UK | Engender | Eilidh Dickson, Policy & Parliamentary Manager Equality Network | Faculty of Sexual and Reproductive Health Scotland | Dr Alison Scott, MB ChB, FRCOG, FFSRH, Consultant Gynaecologist and lead for women with high and complex social needs Free Periods | Fire Brigades Union | Rachel Rogers, Region 1, Women’s Secretary Freedom 4 Girls | Girlguiding Scotland | Denise Spence, Chief Executive Officer GMB Union | HIV Scotland | Nathan Sparling, Chief Executive Homeless Period Ireland | Inclusion Scotland | Iain Smith. National and Local Policy Manager LGBT Youth Scotland | Dr Mhairi Crawford, Chief Executive Lady Business | Tilly O’Donnell, Meredith Rae, Abby Reid, Elle-Rose Fotheringham, Larbert High School Lanarkshire Carers Centre | Light Up Learning | Money Advice Scotland | Yvonne MacDermid, CEO On The Ball | Mikaela, Erin & Orlaith @OnTheBaw One Parent Families Scotland | Satwat Rehman, CEO Public and Commercial Services Union | Sharon Edwards, PCS Scotland Chair Red Box Project | Gemma Abbott Royston Youth Action | Sharon Kelly Sanitary Aid ZimbabweTrust | Theresa Farai Nyava, Founder Sanitree | Amy Goodman, Director Scotdec | Katie McGeary Scottish Trans Alliance | Vic Valentine, Policy Officer, Scottish Trans Alliance Scottish Women’s Convention | Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations | Anna Fowlie, Chief Executive Scottish Youth Parliament | Bailey-Lee Robb MSYP, Trustee for Policy and Advocacy Scottish Women’s Convention | South Lanarkshire College | Liz Newlands, President of the South Lanarkshire College Students’ Association Stonewall Scotland | Megan Snedden, Policy Officer STUC | Dave Moxham, STUC Deputy General Secretary Synergy Concerts | Grainne Vedamanikam, Founder Time for Inclusive Education (TIE) | Jordan Daly & Liam Stevenson. Co-Founders The Poverty Alliance | Unite Scotland | Welfare Scotland | Rob McDowall, Chairperson Who Cares? Scotland | Women’s Aid South Lanarkshire and East Renfrewshire | Heather Russell, CEO Young Women’s Movement | Dr Patrycja Kupiec, Elena Soper, Amy King, Sara Al-mashat and Eleanor Wilson Jennifer Faskin Joanna McNeil Cara Hilton Kirsteen Sullivan Brian Finlay Clare Quigley Anne Blundell Emma-Louise Smith Maureen Hamill Lisa-Kristin Weylandt Jackie Tolland Sharon Graham Patricia Williams Jacinta Farrell Darren Blance Tracey Mac Joanne Kilday Evelyne Torren Ogayar Katie Williams Calum Baird Concepcion Murcia Katrina Simpson Teah Zdanowicz Nuria Castro Michelle Ramsay Angela Feeney Kate Sang Rebekah Corbett Sarah Donald Luis Canadas Caitlin Boyce Holly Bird Lesley Gould Kirsty Cairney Mark Waller Stuart Smith Andrew Baker Flora McGuigan Amanda Govan Kirsty Woods Ronnie Scott Karen McKinley Yvonne Maclean Tracy Morrice Michael McFarlane Michael Hendry Christian Wulff Leah Macdonald Siobhan McIlroy Gavin Anderson Emma-Louise Smith Kyle Walsh Heather Herbert Jade Murdoch Mairi Bruce Emma Lang Grace Murphy Richard Shanley Julie McDougall Stephen Rankin Samantha Penman Jeff Logan Susan Hearty Cameron Ronald Inga McVicar Diane Harte Jasmine Gellatly Delia Colopi Rachel McCallion Sophie Thomson Emma Neil Daniel McCreadie Heather Lawson Ciar McKinley Ryan Girvan Lucy Johnstone Claire McCabe Faye Iannetta Mark Donnelly Marianne Mckinlay Michael Mcgee Jamie Duncan Darren McLachlan Leah Silverlick Kieran Milligan Alice Brown Dionne Harty Shaun Williams Sean McKinlay Joanna Whitby Heather Pearson Marie Larkin Richard Glennon Heather Reilly Lewis Dunsire Sanah Ahmad Rabeel Imrane Susan Myles Stephanie Thomson Paul Rolwich Jack Loudon Chris Scott Kate Stevenson Mike Sheer Barnaby Edmonds Jack Davidson Amy Taylor Amy Shimmin Jodie Gilbert Rona McBride Thomas Gardiner Georgia Keatley-Barclay Gary Southworth Sharon Murphy Jonny Smart Sean Bradley Paul Carnwath Lucie Arneil Clark Gillies Jennifer Jones Lindsay Duffy Andrew Kyle Ellie Wilkie Shirley Stewart Yve Barry Ross Lafferty Thomas Vallance Wendy Milne Marion Cromb Zoe McKeown Anne Sweeney Emily Vaughan Pam Duncan-Glancy Morgan Finnie Merryn Green Diane Harte Linzi Burke Laura McMonagle Stephen Dalton Yvonne Langton John Harrington Nicola Herd Heidi Volpe Silvia Rovira Kevin Gerhardt Madeleine Planche Kathy Baguley Heather Clark Altair Seel Edana O’Donnell David Thomson Javier Moralo Satorre Danielle Rowley Caroll Evans Stephen Smellie Sharon Greenwood Amy Aylmer Nokuzola Ndwandwe Erin Campbell MSYP Vicky Carroll Paul Sweeney Joe Cullinane Jessica Reid Lee Beattie Stephen Heeney Louise Mcphater Lynsey Hamilton Peter Stoddart Libby Nicol Richard McCready Emma Walker Jacqueline Eve Finlay Stevenson Adelle McNeil Zoe Barber Bethany Suggett John Reilly Aaron Fraser Erin Keir Francesca Pawelczyk Lexie Morrison Irene Audain Lesley Orr Margaret Parkinson Laura Dudley-Smith Maria Tomlinson Helen Provan Jeanne Martin Gayle Davis Jenni Martin Emma Reilly Elizabeth Folarin Cody McCormick Debbie Boyd Kim Robertson Kimberley Lamb Emma-Louise Smith Siobhan McCready Debbie Mutter Alison Briggs Carol Hayward Bettina Bildhauer Subodh Tailor Shirley Stewart Marina Politis Vicky Carroll Marjory Wallace Richard Paris Sarah Anderson Jane Donnachie Susan Harcourt Stuart Graham Peter Stefanovic Lee Martin Nicola Wheeler David Caulfield Samantha Paton Heather Pearson Gemma Nimmo Nicola Sykes Kelly Mackay Natalie Middleton Susan Clark Gillian McWilliams Jeanette Miller Alexander Barclay Megan Hood Hiba Abdullah Sandra Gerrie Jasmeen Kanwal Laura Michelle Andrea Sime Kirsty Chatburn Lee Ann Darroch Thanuja Simmons Gillian Logie Erica Perez-Smet Kara Ferguson Emma Murray Alice Murray Ava Gray Leigh Ritchie Jennifer Goff Oona Miller Alexander McDonald Alyx Easton Mari Smith Millie McAuslan Ellie Stenton Izzy Williams Katy MacKay Mary Alexander Margaret McNeil Eileen Martin Stephen Marshall Oliver Robertson Georgina Gibson Keith Mcintosh Emma Cuthbertson