Over the past two years, attitudes and policies regarding menstrual health have started to shift. In 2017, Plan International published research to show that one in 10 girls (14-21 years) in the UK have been unable to afford period products, and 49% have missed an entire day of school because of their period. Activists led the public to take action by signing petitions, attending protests and speaking out online – and the government listened. In March 2019, they committed to provide free period products in England’s schools from early 2020. While this is an enormous step forward, over 1.2 billion people globally still suffer from lack of access to menstrual products.

Our Period of Change will bring together Caroline Russell (Green Party politician and activist), Gabby Edlin (founder of Bloody Good Period), Lynn Boylan (MEP Sinn Féin, Dublin), Manjit K. Gill (founder of Binti International), Victoria Abrahams (trustee of Freedom4Girls) to reflect on the progress nationally and discuss further action that is needed to ensure that everyone, everywhere has menstrual health, products and education. 5 minute introductions will be followed by discussion opened up to the audience. The conversation will be chaired by Afsaneh Parvizi-Wayne (founder of Freda).

The evening will also look to solutions with Binti International’s presentation of their new reusable pad that will be available in the UK and India as an economical and environmentally friendly alternative to mass produced, disposable period products.

The Red Project will be collecting donations of period products at the event, so please bring along anything you wish to donate.