Pads on a Roll

'Pads on a roll' is a new initiative that we have launched at UWLSU, which aims to tackle period poverty by providing free, accessible sanitary products for students and staff.

Our involvement in Pads on a Roll came as a result of Namira, our SU President, speaking with students around campus throughout Semester 1, to hear about what changes or additions students would like to see. One recurring piece of feedback was students wanting to see increased access to free period products, for both convenience and financial reasons.

Why have we introduced Pads on a Roll? 

We heard the feedback and we listened. Although we have been providing free sanitary products at the SU front desk, we are aware that not all students feel comfortable grabbing sanitary products from the desk. Likewise, this is not always convenient for students who may be caught in an emergency situation and want immediate access.

This is why we have introduced Pads on a Roll. Egal Pads on a roll is a company that provides high quality period pads on a roll resembling a toilet roll, that can be used in situations of emergency when you do not have sanitary products to hand. 

We chose this company because of its commitment to sustainability, with its products all made from plant-based materials, making them biodegradable and environmentally friendly.

It was important for us to widen access to this initiative by installing period products directly into the bathrooms, so that students could access the products immediately when they needed them.

What is being provided and where? 

Currently, we are trialling this initiative and have installed the rolls in the last two cubicles in the women’s ground floor toilets in the Park Building behind Freddie's, as well as in the accessible cubicle and in the UWL sports centre toilets. 

What are we hoping to achieve through this initiative?

Through providing free sanitary products, our aim is to reduct the financial pressure of menstruating on students, particularly as the cost of living is being felt so heavily.

We want students to be able to turn up to university, go to their lectures and socialise, without having unexpected interruptions or having to run to the supermarket to buy last-minute sanitary products if their period catches them off guard.

We are looking to gather as much feedback as possible from students who have made use of this service, so we can understand the impact on students and look to widen access to this initiative for more students, across more cubicles.

If you do make use of Pads on a Roll, we would appreciate if you filled out this survey to let us know what you think!

Some facts about period poverty: 

• 1 in 10 people in the UK cannot afford period products. This is hugely impactful on students in particular - who are already financially under pressure. 

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• The average person who menstruates is estimated to spend £10 per period on products. This amounts to approximately £4800 in their lifetime, if they had periods for 40 years. 

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• With around 73% of the average student loan being put towards accommodation costs, students are only left with 27% of their budget for all other living essentials.