The scheme brings us one step closer to ending period poverty.

In a bid to help eradicate period poverty in Ireland, CarePlus Pharmacy have announced their own initiative to provide free pads and tampons. Those in need of period products can fill out a form on the pharmacy's website and obtain the products in-store. The move comes just a week after Lidl announced their partnership with Homeless Period Ireland and The Simon Communities of Ireland to offer free pads and tampons to those who need them. In a statement, CarePlus Pharmacy said that they were inspired by Lidl's intiative: "In support of the fantastic work done by Claire Hunt at Homeless Period Ireland, we want to support women and young girls who may not have access to essential period products that they need, restoring their dignity and ensuring that are not subjected to using unsuitable or unsafe materials as a substitute, or nothing at all." https://twitter.com/CarePlusIreland/status/1386615632339288065 As CarePlus launch this excellent initiative, Ireland comes one step closer to tackling period poverty, which remains a pervasive problem today. For instance, a recent study from Plan International found that almost half of young girls struggle to pay for pads and tampons. Last week, Claire Hunt, the founder of Homeless Period Ireland, welcomed Lidl's initiaitve.

"In a first world country like ours no one should have to choose between feeding themselves and their family or buying period products. In collaboration with Homeless Period Ireland, Lidl Ireland are taking the lead in restoring dignity to people across the entire country.

"It is my hope that in due course much anticipated legislation and measures will be implemented and ultimately Homeless Period Ireland and indeed initiatives like this one should no longer have to exist."

To register for free period products with CarePlus Pharmacy, head to careplus.ie.