Helping end period poverty

Community organisations in Dundee and Glasgow are benefitting from donated period products as part of our commitment to Supported Business procurement.

We have partnered with a social enterprise called Hey Girls who have agreed to provide period products in our offices, including our head office in Dundee and second major base in Glasgow, which means that our toilets stock free period products for anyone who needs them.

Hey Girls create plant-powered period products that support the fight to end period poverty in the UK. As part of this initiative, we have agreed a Buy One, Donate One strategy which means that for every period product purchased, Hey Girls donate the equivalent product to community organisations in the Dundee and Glasgow areas.

This agreement is the latest addition to the portfolio of contracts Social Security Scotland has agreed with Supported Businesses, which are enterprises whose main aim is the social and professional integration of disabled or disadvantaged people and where over 30% of the workforce have a disability or a disadvantage.

Natalie McCrindle, Head of Procurement & Commercial said:

“We are pleased to be able to help tackle period poverty and stigma at Social Security Scotland, providing products for colleagues and visitors to our offices.

“We want our procurement activities to reflect the people of Scotland and our values of dignity, fairness and respect, while also achieving best value. Working with Supported Businesses like Hey Girls ensures that we are making an impact within local communities surrounding our Dundee and Glasgow offices, helping expand easy, free access to period products.”

The local community partners benefitting from the Buy One, Donate One agreement with Hey Girls include:

• Dundee and Angus Foodbank, Dundee
• Froickheim Park Community Volunteers, Froickheim (Angus)
  Hillcrest Futures, Dundee
• 3rd Campsie Brownies, Glasgow
• Children 1st / Action for Children, Glasgow
• Castlemilk Youth Complex, Glasgow
• East Renfrewshire Larder, Glasgow
• The Big Issue, Glasgow
• LANDED Peer Education Service, Glasgow
• Ubuntu Womens Shelter, Glasgow
• Community Renewal Trust, Glasgow
• 199th Glasgow Guides, Glasgow
• Scottish Refugee Council, Glasgow
• The Hygiene Bank, Glasgow
• Gilded Lily Inspiring Enterprise, Glasgow
• Drumchapel United, Glasgow
• The Scottish Football Partnership Trust, Glasgow
• The Pad Project, Glasgow