Free sanitary products at Leeds station in effort to tackle period poverty

Network Rail has launched the initiative after a survey found 10% of girls have been unable to afford sanitary products. Credit: Network Rail

Leeds station is now offering free sanitary products to those who need them, with new vending machines in the toilets.

Network Rail has launched the initiative to help tackle period poverty, after a survey found 10% of girls have been unable to afford sanitary products.

Passengers and station users can pick up pads and tampons from the new vending machines in the female and accessible toilets on the main concourse and on the platforms.

It is hoped that access to the free products will help passengers travel with dignity and confidence.

Earlier this year, the station also opened its Changing Places facility – a toilet for people with profound and multiple disabilities – to help make rail travel more accessible.

Period poverty is when a person struggles or is unable to access sanitary products due to financial constraints, with periods costing an average of £128 a year, or £10 a month.

It’s an issue which affects women, girls and people who menstruate all over the world.

Cllr Jonathan Pryor, Deputy Leader and Executive Member for Economy, Culture and Education at Leeds City Council, said: “Period poverty is something no one should have to experience and we welcome this initiative from Network Rail; it builds on Leeds City Council’s previous work with schools to provide free sanitary products through a variety of locations and provisions, and also helps tackle the stigma around periods and period poverty.”