We had the absolute pleasure of welcoming Hey Girls, a social enterprise group, to our staff day at Sue Lambert Trust to share their mission and the impact of their work.
Hey Girls’ key mission is to eradicate period poverty in the UK, improve access to quality products, and increase education around period health to eliminate shame and stigma. Their social enterprise runs on a buy-one, donate-one model, selling environmentally friendly period products and donating the same to those in need. Since November 2024, they have donated an incredible 42 million period products.
The need is urgent. An ActionAid report in 2023 found that more than one in five women and people who menstruate struggle to afford period products. For many, this means resorting to tissues, cotton wool or clothing as alternatives, solutions that are neither safe nor sustainable. Period poverty can also mean missing work, school, or social opportunities due to discomfort, embarrassment, or lack of resources.
Founded in 2018 by Celia Hodson and her two daughters as a kitchen table start-up, Hey Girls has grown into the main provider of period products to local authorities across the UK. They also work with a network of community partners who support vulnerable people on the frontline. Alongside products, they have developed free resources such as their PickUpMyPeriod app, which helps people locate free supplies nearby, and a wide range of educational guides to support period health.
During our session, Hey Girls also highlighted important issues around menstrual health conditions such as Endometriosis and PMDD (Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder). Endometriosis occurs when cells similar to the womb lining grow in other parts of the body, often leading to severe pain and stress. PMDD, meanwhile, can cause intense mood changes, anxiety and depression in the lead-up to a period. These discussions gave us much food for thought, particularly about how survivors we support may be further affected by their health during medical examinations or in daily life.
Hearing from Hey Girls reinforced how closely their mission links with ours: breaking down stigma, improving access to support, and ensuring that people’s health and dignity are never compromised.