Free sanitary machines installed at Island's College

The Island's College has installed free sanitary machines.

UCM says it's to increase the accessibility of female hygiene products and to support students who struggle to afford them.

Its Student Services team previously facilitated their own fully stocked ‘Red Box’, which offered free, emergency sanitary items to students.

UK research found 1 in 10 young women were unable to afford basic sanitary protection and 42% had to rely on folded toilet paper to get them through the day.

The college says four years on, and given an impending cost of living crisis, it is fair to assume these numbers will have increased.

Hannah May, said "Period poverty is a real issue, and we don’t want students missing class or other UCM activities, because they can’t afford basic female hygiene products. We are proud of the wide ranging support we provide for students at UCM and are delighted to now be able to add this to our list of services."