DONATIONS to help tackle period poverty in East Sussex can now be made online.

Donated period products have been accepted at libraries across the county since July and from last month residents have also been able to donate virtually through a new online wish list.

The East Sussex Libraries PeriodBank wish list means people can donate reusable and disposable period products to the scheme quickly and easily.

Unopened sanitary products have been available for anyone to take discreetly from Eastbourne and Hastings libraries since the launch of the project in January. In the summer the scheme was expanded to include collection points at Newhaven and Hailsham libraries.

Cllr Claire Dowling, the county council’s lead member, said: “Since we launched the PeriodBank scheme earlier in the year, over 680 bags of free period products have been collected by those who need them.

“We would like to say a huge thank you to our residents for generously supporting the campaign. Every donation is greatly appreciated, with reusable products particularly sought after.

“While donated products can still be dropped off at all libraries if residents prefer, the new online wish list means people can help their community even more easily, donating with the click of a button.”

In 2019 a survey conducted by Bloody Big Brunch found that more than a quarter of women in the UK had been forced to miss work or school because they could not afford period products.

Cllr Dowling continued: “No one should have to use makeshift products or miss work or school because they can’t afford to buy period products. People are welcome to collect products from the PeriodBanks as many times as necessary and to take what they need.”

Donations to the PeriodBank wish list can be made at www.forcommongood.co.uk/pages/east-sussex-libraries-periodbank

To find out more about period poverty and the scheme, visit https://eastsussex.spydus.co.uk/cgi-bin/spydus.exe/MSGTRNGEN/WPAC/SPOTLIGHT?HOMEPRMS=UD_periodbank