Reusable period products given out at Leeds leisure centres

Together with period poverty charity Freedom 4 Girls, Active Leeds are giving out free sustainable products at their leisure centres across Leeds over the next few months.

One in 10 girls in the UK can’t afford period products, and a lack of access can mean missing school, work and physical activity.

Members of staff at Leeds leisure centres have shared their experiences of how periods have impacted them at work, whether it is the fear of leaking, getting caught short and not having products with them at work, navigating perimenopause and irregular periods or struggling with feeling confident to do their job whilst on their period.

Over the next few months, Active Leeds and Freedom 4 Girls are providing the opportunity for staff and visitors to explore and take home sustainable period products, removing both financial and cultural barriers to physical activity. They are also asking for help to stock the leisure centres’ period stations through donations of disposable or sustainable menstrual products.

At the two pilot events that have already taken place, teams handed out 208 free sustainable products including 121 period pants, 57 period swimwear and 30 reusable pads. In exchange for the free products, they collected over 100 packets and boxes of disposable products, to be able to offer free period products for all visitors at the Active Leeds sites.

Councillor Salma Arif, Leeds City Council’s executive member for adult social care, active lifestyles and culture, said: “This initiative is about more than just access to reusable and sustainable period products, it's about normalising conversations, building confidence, and ensuring that no one is left behind because of their period.

“Following the success of the pilot events, we’re looking forward to rolling this out across more leisure centres over the next few months.”

Events will take place at the following leisure centres:

Kirkstall Leisure Centre – 21 May

Armley Leisure Centre – 22 May

Garforth Leisure Centre – 11 June

Rothwell Leisure Centre – 12 June

Middleton Leisure Centre – 25 June

Pudsey Leisure Centre – 26 June

Scott Hall Leisure Centre – 9 July

Fearnville Leisure Centre – 10 July

John Smeaton Leisure Centre – 16 July

Morley Leisure Centre – 17 July

Find out more about Active Leeds at https://active.leeds.gov.uk/.