as social enterprise of the year
we break records, boundaries and bias
social enterprise of the year
social enterprise of the year
social enterprise of the year
social enterprise of the year
social enterprise of the year
social enterprise of the year
social enterprise of the year
social enterprise of the year
social enterprise of the year
social enterprise of the year
social enterprise of the year
social enterprise of the year
social enterprise of the year
social enterprise of the year
social enterprise of the year
welcome to hey girls…
At Hey Girls we are revolutionising periods as the only social enterprise that donates 100% of our profit to funding the fight to eradicate period poverty and lobby for period dignity across the UK.
In under 5 years, we have become the main provider of period products to the local authorities throughout the UK, delivered on huge corporate accounts and won tender contracts over big commercial names.
We are proud to be female lead and the only company to match our product sales exactly as donations – when you buy one, we donate one.
We distribute donations via our UK wide community partner network who work on the frontline to support vulnerable people.
As social enterprise of the year, we break records, boundaries, and bias when it comes to period equality to ensure everyone has access to sustainable products and inclusive education – for free!
At Hey Girls we are revolutionising periods as the only social enterprise that donates 100% of our profit to funding the fight to eradicate period poverty and lobby for period dignity across the UK.
In under 5 years, we have become the main provider of period products to the local authorities throughout the UK, delivered on huge corporate accounts and won tender contracts over big commercial names.
We are proud to be female lead and the only company to match our product sales exactly as donations – when you buy one, we donate one.
We distribute donations via our UK wide community partner network who work on the frontline to support vulnerable people.
As social enterprise of the year, we break records, boundaries, and bias when it comes to period equality to ensure everyone has access to sustainable products and inclusive education – for free!
see what we’ve been up to since we started…
2018
it all started with 500,000 period pads…
Our first container of 500,000 period pads arrives into the UK, and Hey Girls launches online with bamboo and corn-starch pads.
2018
First products sent to schools…
West Lothian schools became our first recipient of free period products for pupils in Scotland.
2018
Our first donation goes to…
Young Women Scotland become our first donation partner, receiving free period pads to distribute to their community.
2018
Virgin Start Ups Winner!
Hey Girls wins the Virgin Start Ups Scottish Business of the Year, and were thrilled to be the winner of this fantastic award and to be mentored by Sir Richard Branson.
2018
First supermarkets to stock our products…
Waitrose and Asda become first two supermarket to stock Hey Girls products. We went live in both supermarket giants UK-wide with a double page spread in the Metro to raise awareness of Period Poverty in the UK.
2019
Pads4Dads is created…
Let’s not leave men out of the conversation. Education packs and resources designed to educate men on periods and how to have difficult conversations with support from actor and activist Michael Sheen.
2019
Working with Scottish Government…
Hey Girls works with Scottish Government to provide free products to pupils and students across the country. Pitched against the big end of town – we win the Washroom Solutions contact for Scotland.
2019
One million donations!
Hey Girls reached a massive milestone of over 1 million period product donations!
2020
Periods are a Big Issue!
In collaboration with Big Issue Magazine, we published the first ever supplement all about periods! Our magazine take over was devoted to putting an end to period poverty, stomping out stigmas and encouraging environmental activism.
2020
Sanitary or UNsanitary…
In a national campaign alongside advertising giants Adam and Eve, we changed the name of our products from ‘sanitary pads’ to ‘period pads’. We gained news coverage across the country for our creative work taking over supermarket shelves with the unsanitary items people living in period poverty are having to use.
2020
Period Dignity Movement…
Hey Girls encourage businesses across the UK to improve their period dignity. So far we have 65 businesses improving their workplaces and washroom facilities.
2020
#YouAreNotAlone
Hey Girls community stands in solidarity to show their support for the ‘You Are Not Alone’ campaign supporting those who are facing Domestic Abuse.
2020
Home Pack Scheme created…
In response to the global pandemic, we created a ‘home pack’ service which ensured people could still access free period care even if they couldn’t leave home. Working closely with councils across Scotland and Wales we were able to get over 880,000 period kits to those that needed it.
2020
10 million donations!
Hey Girls reached a massive milestone of over 10 million period product donations!
2020
Don’t rush to flush…
We were the first company to advertise ‘do not flush’ on our period products. With the support of Scottish Water, our campaign encouraged people to think before they flush, saving tonnes of waste heading into our oceans and millions of pounds worth of water blockages.
2020
Period friendly business…
We launch MyPeriod.org.uk, a space for employers to test their period policies – awarding top employers with Gold, Silver or Bronze certification as a period friendly business, alongside tips on how to improve the workplace experience for their menstruating staff.
2020
Free periods for Scotland…
Scotland made history passing the Free Provision Act. After years of campaigning, the hard work of many organisations, strong female leaders and campaigners finally paid off.
2021
Do It In Your Pants TV campaign with Sky…
The launch of our sustainable period pant range saw us working with Sky to create a TV advertising campaign that encouraged the use of reusable period products.
2021
#SeeingRed
Our Seeing Red campaign was designed to make people angry about period poverty. Check it out here.
2021
Our first Lunch & Learn…
We rolled out a ‘lunch and learn’ initiative to bring together our donation partners to tackle period poverty as one. We share education, listen to ideas, and develop our practices to support members of their communities the best we can.
2021
Finalists at COP 26…
Hey Girls made it to the top 5 of the Heroes of Net Zero award at COP 26 Global Climate Conference. We were recognised for our efforts in going green with the design of our zero waste packaging on reusable products.
2021
20 million donations!
Hey Girls reached a massive milestone of over 20 million period product donations!
2021
150 donation partners!
Hey Girls now works with 150 donation partners to get our donated products to those that need it most.
2022
World first app launched: PickUpMyPeriod
In a world first, we developed an app that allowed people all over Scotland to locate free period products in over 700 public locations. In collaboration with Scottish Government, people can find products on the move, closest to home and even filter to product type to access disposable and reusable period care for free.
2022
Free Vend Dispenser launch…
Encouraging barrier free access to period care continues with the launch of our very popular ‘free vend’ wall dispenser. No monetary transactions take place meaning employees, customers and member of the public can access plastic free period pads and tampons as they need.
2022
Say Hey to Australia!
With 1 in 4 Australians unable to afford the period care they need, we have expanded into Sydney where Co Founder Bec is taking on period poverty in one of the worlds most expensive countries.
2022
Women in Sport collaboration…
Working closely with Women in Sport to create a ‘Big Sister’ project educating and encouraging young people to improve confidence, conversations and wellbeing.
2018
2019
2020
2021
2022
we’re good for periods…
the people we help, are why we exist…
A community partner is a group or organisation that receives our matched products as donations to distribute to the communities they work with. Without them, our donations wouldn’t get to those that need them.
We work with 300 partners across the UK, from food banks, charities, shelters and community initiates.
These organisations work day and night to get product into the hands of those who need our support most.
Since launching Hey Girls in 2018, we have donated over 30 million period products across the UK.
A community partner is a group or organisation that receives our matched products as donations to distribute to the communities they work with. Without them, our donations wouldn’t get to those that need them.
We work with 300 partners across the UK, from food banks, charities, shelters and community initiates.
These organisations work day and night to get product into the hands of those who need our support most.
Since launching Hey Girls in 2018, we have donated over 30 million period products across the UK.
We’re certified by Social Enterprise UK, the national membership body for social enterprises.
Social enterprises are businesses with a social or environmental mission; when they profit, society profits.
Hey Girls is incorporated as a Community Interest Company. Hey Girls has applied to the Community Interest Company Regulator to amend the objects set out in its Articles of Association to ensure that it is authorised to assist girls and young women worldwide, and not only in the UK. This statement is made to bring the proposed alteration to the notice of those persons affected by Hey Girls’ activities (being its customers, commercial partners and beneficiaries), in accordance with Regulation 14 of the Community Interest Company Regulations 2005.
