Southend's new Red Relief scheme is making free period products available in 9 council-owned venues across the city, as part of a two-year trial.
The project is being led by Southend City Youth Council, following national priorities set by the UK Youth Parliament and a local consultation on Your say Southend, which received 119 responses. The project is being supported by the Southend Health and Wellbeing board.
The aim is to reduce period poverty, improve access to sanitary products, and help ensure no one in Southend is held back from school, work, or community life because of their period.
Jocelyn Ayao, Member of Youth Parliament, said: "Firsthand, I have seen too often how something as natural as a period can become a source of exclusion. For some, it has meant missing school, avoiding community spaces, or carrying the quiet burden of shame simply because products were out of reach.
"When I saw that 61% of people in a Hey Girls survey said they've struggled to afford period products, something made even harder by the cost-of-living crisis, I knew it was time to act.
"That is why I launched the Red Relief Scheme, to transform silence into dignity. By ensuring free period products are available across council venues, I want to make a simple truth real: no one should ever be held back by biology. This is not only about provision, but about compassion and fairness, and a belief that participation in society should never come with a hidden cost."
Residents can see the list of participating venues on the Livewell Southend website.