Scotland has made history by becoming the first country in the world to introduce a law that gives women the right to free sanitary products.
The Period Products Act came into force today and means councils and education providers have to make the necessary items free when they are needed.
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Since 2017, around £27 million has been spent to provide access in public settings.
Star Project is a Paisley charity that tackles the impacts of poverty and deprivation and supports people during tough times.
Sharon McAulay, chief executive at Star Project, said: “Today’s news is such a landmark achievement for Scotland. Women make up 50 per cent of the population and being able to have free access to period products is such a basic human right."
Star has been providing food to people who could not afford it from its Community Fridge, with many people relying on the charity to feed themselves and their families.
Sharon added: "We simply incorporated period products into our Community Fridge, which was adapted to a delivery service at the onset of the pandemic.
"If there were females in the household we would either pop some products into their delivery or have a conversation about what they needed when they called.”
Local authorities will each decide what exact arrangements are put in place, but they will have a legal obligation to give "anyone who needs them" access to products.
Tampons, pads and some reusable products are already funded in schools, colleges and universities.
Period poverty - meaning when women, girls and those who menstruate cannot afford period products - is a problem in many countries worldwide.
Aid organisation Plan International said in 2017 that 10 per cent of girls and young women aged 14 to 21 in the UK could not afford any period products, while 15 per cent had financial problems affording them.
Despite many local organisations, including Renfrewshire Council, making period products readily available a few years ago, period poverty worsened during the Covid-19 pandemic as public buildings were closed.
Plans were quickly put in motion to allow people to order products online or by phone and charities that operated throughout the lockdowns, such as Star Project, saw an increase in period product requests.
Sharon added: “Given that the current cost-of-living crisis is having such an impact on everyone’s lives and period products can be costly, the Act, is very welcome news. We are delighted that Scotland is leading the way and I hope that other nations governments follow suit."
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