As we all know, the cost-of-living crisis is looming over us. Students are struggling as much as everyone else or even more. Loans are low, rent is extortionate, bills are rocketing, and so are the prices of sanitary products. Sanitary products have always been pricy; until a year ago they were still classified as a ‘luxury’ item with added VAT. We are still fighting for the reduction of prices in stores. However, some organisations have been trying to help uterus owners with this issue, including Exeter’s Students’ Guild.
The Guild began supporting students by providing free sanitary products in toilets and laundry facilities around our campuses. I found there to be 29 locations in which you can find period products free to take. This was a good idea to help students with the cost-of-living crisis, but more must be done.
Last year I lived in Birks Grange, and the laundry facilities had a pickup point, but I found they were often empty as they wouldn’t be filled up frequently enough, or people would empty them all at once. In addition, these products are only available in public places, so I often felt a bit embarrassed to pick any up. Therefore, despite it being a good starting place, I am sure many students can agree that more can be done so that every student in Exeter can access period products when they need them for no cost.
This is where the new period product initiative comes into play. The LGBTQ+ society has teamed up with the Guild President, Lily, to create a method in which students can still have access to free period products when they need them for no cost, and no shame. They are running a ‘click and collect system’ where students can order packages of period products for free and come and collect for free.
The LGBTQ+ and Period Poverty Societies are teaming up to support the Students’ Guild in this endeavour. They are asking students to volunteer their time to help build these packages and run a trial within the coming weeks to see how popular the service will be to know how many products they will need. This service will potentially be able to help many students at Exeter (regardless of gender identity) to have period products without making a dent in their bank accounts. These two initiatives are definitely a step in the right direction to help students fight period poverty, especially during this ongoing economic crisis, and help overcome period shame.
They are currently asking students to volunteer their time to help build these packages and run a trial within the next coming weeks to see how popular the service will be to know how many products they will need. If students would like to get involved in the ‘click and collect’ scheme, they are searching for volunteers to make these packages on Thursday, 2nd February, from 2 pm to 5 pm in Devonshire House 1 (ground floor of the students guild building). It doesn’t matter how long you can stay during that period (pun intended). Any help is welcome from those who would like to. I will personally be trying to stop by and contribute to getting behind this great project.
I believe that what the Students’ Guild is doing in Exeter is brilliant for students, and although these schemes should have been introduced sooner, I am more than happy to see them happening now. I hope these initiatives are sustained and supported by all students. Hopefully, we will see more schemes taking place not only in Exeter but also that it inspires other universities to fight period poverty and the cost-of-living crisis.