An example of a free period products dispenser in Pevensey I

New free period product dispensers have been installed in toilet facilities across campus, replacing existing paid machines with dispensers containing free Natracare pads and tampons for anyone that needs them.

These have been installed as part of an initiative started by the Period Dignity Project, working with Sussex Estates and Facilities (SEF), expanding upon an existing trial of two dispensers in the Schools of Life Sciences and MAH (Media, Arts and Humanities).

The period product dispensers are monitored and stocked by volunteers in each building and supported by SEF – if the dispenser is empty, you can let us know via contact information next to each dispenser.

• John Maynard Smith, second floor women’s
• Bramber House, ground floor women’s
• Fulton, ground floor women’s
• Library, first and second floors, all-gender
• Pevensey I, undercroft (lower floor) all-gender
• Sport Centre, ground floor women’s toilet
• Falmer Sports Complex, ground floor women’s toilet
• BSMS Teaching, ground floor women’s
• Attenborough Centre, ground floor all-gender
• Arts A, ground floor all-gender
• Student Centre, ground floor all-gender
• Jubilee, first floor all-gender
• Freeman, ground floor women’s
• Chichester I, ground floor all-gender
• Shawcross, ground floor women’s

Kristy Flowers, Senior Technical Manager at the School of Life Sciences and co-founder of the Period Dignity Project, initiated the dispenser project last year and has worked to expand this to the wider campus community:

“Periods are still often stigmatised and something that people are ashamed of or make fun of, but they can be a very real cause of stress and embarrassment for many, inhibiting people’s daily lives, ability to work, learn, and exercise. The impacts of periods are magnified in minoritised groups, so we want to be as inclusive as possible.

“With the support of SEF we have been able to trial 15 dispensers across campus which is a great start. We cannot do this on our own and need the support of the whole campus to make sure the resources are provided and are reaching those in need.”

See a detailed list of dispenser locations and more information on the project.

If you have any questions or ideas, you can contact the project team at period.dignity@sussex.ac.uk, and follow the project for more updates at @perioddignityproject on Instagram.

The Students’ Union additionally provides free period products at the Falmer House reception, and during their weekly Free Wednesday events.

About the Period Dignity Project

The Period Dignity Project was launched in 2019 at the School of Life Sciences, with the goal of raising awareness of issues such as the cost of menstruation and the cultural stigma around periods in wider society, aiming to improve understanding of periods and share kindness, respect and support to people who menstruate.

The Period Dignity Project is run by volunteers, and free products have been placed in all toilets in the School of Life Sciences areas and in many other schools on campus such as Media, Arts and Humanities (MAH); Engineering and Informatics; Mathematical and Physical Sciences (MPS); Education and Social Work (ESW); Law, Politics and Sociology (LPS); and the Meeting House. The Natracare products we use are organic, biodegradable, non-perfumed and have no plastics, and we also encourage people who can afford to do so to donate to the baskets.

Since it was launched, the project has distributed:

• 19,900 free period products in the School of Life Sciences alone, including 9,676 pads and 10,224 tampons
• 33,990 products across the wider campus community, including 16,702 pads and 17,288 tampons
• The School of Life Sciences distributed 90 bags of mixed reusable pads, and 105 menstrual cups during this year’s Welcome Week to its students

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