This year, King’s Volunteering are partnering with The Pachamama Project, a charity who is working to build a network of volunteers to make reusable sanitary pads for those in need.

Defined by the lack of access to hygiene facilities, menstrual products and education, Period Poverty affects millions of women, girls and people who menstruate despite being a basic human right.

Rooted in socio-environmental inequalities and impacting communities already disadvantaged by other factors, the psychological and health effects of Period Poverty is well-documented. Charities like the Binti Period, The Pachama Project and Bloody Good Period are working to tackle these issues in a range of ways, with all in agreement that they shouldn’t have to exist and that these gendered experiences require policy change and urgent action from governing bodies.

Research from Dr Alison Briggs at the University of Manchester has also brought to light the intersectional issue of Period Poverty for both women from lower socio-economic positions and girls from low-income households in Stoke-on-Trent.

Briggs speaks to the unspoken rules around periods, from the way in which they are spoken about to how they are acquired and worn. Rules, she argues that shape behaviours and are intrinsically linked to feelings of embarrassment and shame. Behaviours that prevent open dialogue, arguing that what is hidden can police the way in which menstruation is managed in the social world.

With more than 2 billion people around the world menstruating, this is a public health crisis that cannot be ignored. It can be difficult to know where to start, but creating space to learn and discuss the topic openly is a good first step.

At King’s Volunteering, we’re working to do this and invite our community of staff and students to join us. Below are some ways you can be part of this:

Connecting with Charities: Period Poverty: 

On Tuesday 22nd October, from 12.30-13.30, we’ll be joined by Dr Alison Briggs, Manjit Kaur from Binti Period and Ella Lambert from The Pachamama Project. Click here to register  

This webinar will provide a basic introduction to Period Poverty and will leave you with an understanding of what actions can be taken to shift the dial in the right direction.

Volunteer and help make sustainable pads: 

We’re working with The Pachamama Project this year to make reusable sanitary pads for people who are experiencing challenges. The charity works with partners in Greece, Lebanon, the UK, US, Turkey and the Turkey-Syria border to gift pads. Learn more about how you can contribute to this campaign.

We’ll be holding an event to create gift bags for these sustainable pads in November. Date and location TBC, follow us on Instagram (@ServiceAtKings) for updates. 

Talk periods:  

Change requires collective action. We need to work collaboratively, to create systemic change and that involves talking about this topic, openly. Whether that’s by joining a network, volunteering or learning more about the impact of Period Poverty. If you have any ideas and want to be connected with organisations that are doing this important work, please get in touch - we’d be happy to explore ways that we could collaborate. 

Contact us: volunteer@kcl.ac.uk