Period Pals - Radical Kindness, Made Visible

Period Pals is a grassroots allyship initiative encouraging people, especially men and boys, to carry period products in their bags or pockets, ready to offer to anyone who needs them. 

It’s about making care visible, normalising conversations about menstruation, and standing in solidarity with those affected by period poverty and stigma.

The idea began with a conversation between Adrian and his mum, sparked by a video showing a young boy carrying period products for his friends. That small act of empathy led to a wider reflection: if we want to tackle the stigma around periods, we need visible, everyday acts of allyship. 

Adrian began carrying around period products in his rucksack, understanding that when we think "Hey, someone should be doing something about that!" - sometimes we can be that someone.

When Adrian's mum asked, “But how would people know you’re carrying them?”- that’s when the badge was born.

The badge, featuring a pad, tampon and the words “Ask Me - I carry period products” became a quiet but powerful symbol. 

We launched in June 2025, inviting 50 people to become founding Period Pals, wearing their badge and pledging to carry period products. 

With support from local organisations, donations, and a vibrant online community group on Facebook, the project has grown into a movement rooted in radical kindness, visibility, and shared responsibility.

One of the highlights of the first year of the project was an amazing collaboration with UNISON to celebrate International Women's Day, which saw 100 Period Pals badges and pledge cards distributed to workers across North Staffordshire. 

The next phase of the project is focused on 'People and Places' with an aim to create a visible presence in community spaces.  The hope is to make it easier for people to find out about the project, collect badges and pledge cards, and start conversations about period dignity and allyship.

Watch Adrian talk about Period Pals in this reel on Instagram.