Access to sanitary products Aberdeen pilot: evaluation report

Annex A: Detailed research questions

Objective 1

Test different approaches to providing dignified access to free sanitary products for people from low income households and young people at school, college and university (including direct provision of products, and providing the means to purchase products where appropriate).

Q1.1 What different delivery models were used to provide access to free sanitary products and what were the advantages and disadvantages, including in relation to ease of access, dignity and choice?

1.1a What different delivery models were used and how did CFINE and partners make decisions about providing access to products?

1.1b What were the advantages and disadvantages for CFINE and partners of different models chosen?

1.1c Did partners provide access to sanitary products prior to the pilot and, if so, how does this compare to the pilot activity

1.1d What were participants' views on different models for accessing products, particularly in relation to ease of access, dignity and choice (including ways of being given products directly vs. ways of providing the means to purchase products)?

1.1e When given the means to purchase products, did participants use the money for this purpose or did they have other pressing priorities?

Q1.2 How was co-ordination and distribution of products/the means to purchase products managed and what challenges were encountered?

1.2a How did CFINE and partners cope with demand and how burdensome was it for them to administer their distribution of products/the means to purchase products?

1.2b What logistical/operational challenges did CFINE and partners face in distributing products?

Q1.3 How replicable are the tested models to other parts of Scotland, e.g. for areas not covered by the FareShare network or a similar operation?

Objective 2

Provide indicative information on volume, type and quality of products required in the different settings, and costs (including the cost of products and administrative costs).

Q2.1 What level of demand was there for products within the pilot?

2.1a How many participants took part in the pilot, through which partner, and how often did they receive products?

2.1b How did partners identify participants? Were any potential participants more difficult to reach/identified as not taking up provision?

2.1c How demand was created? I.e. what sort of communication systems did partners use and how did they advertise the scheme?

Q2.2 What volume, type and quality of products were required and how much did they cost?

2.1a Which products and how many did participants receive each month?

2.1b Were participants able to get the products they needed, when they needed them? Was choice and quantity of products adequate?

2.1c What were participants' views on quality and was product quality an important consideration?

2.1d How many participants were interested in/tried alternative products ( e.g. reusable pads/menstrual cups)? What were their views?

Q2.3 How much did the pilot cost in terms of products and resources required for administration?

Objective 3

Provide indicative information on the circumstances people are in that mean they cannot access sanitary products or have anxiety about being unable to access products, the impacts (both practical and psychological/emotional) of lack of access to products and how people cope without the products they need.

Q3.1 Why were participants experiencing need?

3.1a What issues had participants experienced accessing products for themselves/ their family in the past? At the time of the pilot, what were the circumstances they were in that meant they could not get the products they need?

Q3.2 What impact had lack of access to, or anxiety about being unable to access, products had on participants?

3.2a How did participants cope without sanitary products for themselves/their family?

3.2b Had participants missed school/college/been unable to undertake other activities in the past because they could not manage menstruation?

3.2c What other impacts had the lack of access to/affordability of products had on participants e.g. experiencing insecurity/anxiety/stress due to lack of sanitary protection, not being able to afford other items or activities because of cost of sanitary products, having to use of cheap 'alternatives'.

Objective 4

Assess the impact of providing access to free sanitary products on participants of the pilot (including on access to adequate sanitary protection, ability to manage their menstruation in a dignified way, impact on attendance at school/college/other activities, accessing wider services being offered by service providers, the choices that people make when given the means to purchase products).

Q4.1 What impact did the pilot have on participants?

4.1a What impacts did participants notice as a result of the pilot ( e.g. impact on attendance at school/college/other activities, reduction in anxiety/stress, had more money for other essentials/activities, changed product more often/tried different products.)

4.1b How did participants feel about being given free products/being given the means to purchase products?

4.1c Had participants accessed wider services being offered by service providers due to participating in the pilot?

Objective 5

Assess the wider impact of providing access to free sanitary products on organisations involved.

Q5.1 Did this new activity impact on service providers' operating principles/ models? In what ways? What response was there to this?

Q5.2 Did providing this service affect the relationship between service providers and participants? In what ways?

Q5.3 Did the pilot change the way partners work together? In what ways?