Let's Talk Period
In the UK, a culture of shame is having a devastating impact on the lives of girls and young people who menstruate. Period stigma, combined with the high cost of period products and a lack of education, make up the ‘toxic trio’ of period poverty.
In 2017 period poverty hit the headlines when a teacher in Leeds contacted a local charity, after she became concerned that girls were missing school because they couldn’t afford period products. Since then, we’ve spent time understanding the root causes of period poverty, speaking to girls, teachers and experts.
In 2018 we released a first-of-its-kind report on UK girls’ experiences of their periods, Break the Barriers. As a result of our ground-breaking research, we partnered with Brook, the young people’s sexual health and wellbeing charity, to launch Let’s talk. Period, a project committed to ending period poverty in England.
About the project
Let’s talk. Period was funded by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS). It incorporated:
- A pilot of the P-Card, a new model of delivering period products and education in schools.
- Research on periods and young people to create four learning briefings, to support young people and professionals seeking to tackle period poverty.
- Providing small grants to grassroots organisations to deliver solutions in their local communities.
- Bringing together the network of organisations and professionals who are seeking solutions to period poverty.
To find out more, visit Brook’s website >
Research and learnings
Through the Let’s talk. Period project we were able to delve further into young people’s direct experiences of period education and uncover best practice by examining a range of projects designed to tackle the toxic trio.
Let's talk. Period: Centring the voices of young people
Examining young people’s experiences of menstruation, including menstruation education.
Let's talk. Period: Best practice and innovations
Best practice and innovations in period poverty and menstruation education initiatives.
Let's talk. Period: Inclusivity and diversity
Insights from the experts who work with underrepresented groups and advocate for inclusive menstruation equity.
Let's talk. Period: Evidencing and evaluating initiatives
Best practice in demonstrating effectiveness and impact of period poverty initiatives.
The Period Poverty Grant Scheme
Let’s talk. Period funded nine organisations to deliver local solutions to period poverty in their communities. The organisations funded include:
- IRISE International
- Project Give, Wolverhampton
- Real Period Project – Bristol
- Knowsley Youth Mutual
- Newcastle East Mixed Academy Trust
- Young Women’s Film Academy
- Zinthiya Ganeshpanchan Trust
- Women’s Environmental Network
- Freedom4Girls, Leeds
Discover more
Break the Barriers: our Menstrual Manifesto
Our first-of-a-kind report documents girls’ experiences of their periods in the UK.
Our work in the UK
Our UK programmes connect girls with their rights through advocacy and campaigning.