Women's Community Officer: Improving Period Product Availability on Campus

Periods are a significant part of life for many students on campus, yet finding sustainable and affordable period products can still be a challenge. That’s why the Students’ Union (SU) shop is expanding its range of period products, making them more accessible than ever!  

Hi, I’m Poppy, and I’m your Women’s Student Community Officer for the 2024–25 academic year. In this role, I campaign for meaningful changes, host events, and work on feedback to support the women on campus.   

One of the key priorities in my manifesto this year was improving the availability of period products on campus. This includes both the distribution of free period products already provided in buildings such as the Emily Wilding Davison building (the library), the Windsor building, the Shilling building and at the Advice Centre, but also expanding the product range offered in the SU shop.   

After consulting with the SU shop team and others, I am excited to share that a wider selection of period products are now available! These products include: period underwear, reusable pads, menstrual cups and discs… Additionally, we felt it was important that these products be made as accessible as possible, which is why all these products will be sold at cost price, there will be no additional tax on these products to ensure they remain as cost-friendly as possible.  

Furthermore, the shop will stock Grace and Green pads and tampons, the same ones that can be found in bathrooms across campus. Grace and Green products are: biodegradable, toxin-free, hypoallergenic, and made from organic cotton and bamboo, making them a more sustainable option.   

These sustainable options provide a healthier and eco-friendly choice for students.  

We’re committed to ensuring that the needs of those who menstruate are met, and these changes are hopefully the first of many.   

If you have any ideas or feedback, please don’t hesitate to reach out—I’d love to hear from you!