Henpicked: Menopause in the Workplace donates £10,000 of Mooncup period care products to Crisis Skylight centres thanks to Specsavers’ initiative
A group of Menopause Friendly employers has come together to tackle period poverty among people experiencing homelessness.
After Specsavers highlighted the urgent need for menstrual products at Crisis Skylight centres in London, Henpicked: Menopause in the Workplace stepped up to help. Using funds raised from its annual Menopause Friendly Employer Awards, it donated £10,000 to provide free, Mooncup reusable cups and organic cotton period care products to people supported by the national homelessness charity Crisis.
“We are so grateful to both Specsavers and Henpicked for funding and providing Mooncups to women experiencing homelessness that we support through our services in London,” says Juliet Mountford, Executive Director of Client Services at Crisis. “Many of the women we work with struggle to access essential hygiene products, often because they simply can’t afford them. This can affect both their physical health and their sense of dignity, which is why being able to offer a sustainable, reusable option like the Mooncup is an empowering solution. Everyone deserves access to basic healthcare and hygiene, and thanks to this support we can continue to help our members across the region.”
Period poverty continues to affect thousands in the UK. According to WaterAid:
- 24% of people who menstruate have struggled to afford period products in the past year
- 32% worry they won’t be able to afford them in the future
- 1 in 5 have resorted to using makeshift materials like toilet paper or sponges
For those without stable housing, the issue is even more critical. Managing a period without access to clean, private facilities and necessary products can be uncomfortable and have a profound impact on confidence and self-esteem.
“We’re really proud to have donated funding to provide Mooncups and organic period care products for women supported by Crisis,” says Jo Osborne, Homelessness Programme Lead at Specsavers. “Menstrual health is a vital yet often overlooked issue—especially for women experiencing homelessness, who may find it harder to access suitable and affordable products. Through this collaboration with Henpicked and Mooncup, we’re proud to help address period inequality by offering a sustainable, long-lasting solution. This donation is part of our wider commitment to improving access to care alongside our eye and ear health clinics run in Crisis Skylights across the UK.”
The Mooncup is a reusable, zero-waste alternative to disposable menstrual products which offers a long-term, sustainable solution to managing periods.
“We’re proud to stand with Crisis, Henpicked and Specsavers in collective action – because solidarity starts with showing up,”. says Megan Leigh, brand manager at Mooncup. “We believe access to safe, sustainable period care is a basic human right and we won’t stop until everyone can manage their period with the dignity they deserve. Which is why we’ve partnered with Henpicked and Specsavers to support Crisis, providing Mooncup period care to people experiencing homelessness and financial hardship.”
This joint initiative from Henpicked, Specsavers, Mooncup and Crisis offers a meaningful, practical response to menstrual inequity and shows how workplace communities can be a force for good.
“When Specsavers told me about their wish to support Crisis by providing free period products, I was only too happy to help,” says Deborah Garlick, CEO of Henpicked: Menopause in the Workplace. “Period poverty is very real, and it’s heartbreaking to know that people are denied the chance to manage their period with dignity. Thanks to the generosity of our sponsors and guests at the Menopause Friendly Employer Awards, we were able to donate £10,000 to fund these Mooncup period products. This initiative is a powerful example of how employers can come together to make a difference.”