Addressing Period Poverty: Qualitas and Gift Wellness Team Up to Make a Difference

As period poverty continues to rise in the UK, Qualitas has partnered with Gift Wellness to tackle this pressing issue head-on. This collaboration aims to help GP practices in Britain’s most deprived communities by providing free period hygiene products on site. 

Our Initiative 

To mark International Women’s Day on March 8th, Qualitas and Gift Wellness have launched a pilot project to distribute free sanitary products through GP practices. According to a May 2023 Action Aid poll, the number of UK women and menstruating individuals struggling to afford period products has increased from 12% to 21% in just one year. 

To combat this growing challenge, our pilot project places free sanitary products in six GP practices across England. These practices receive an initial stock of supplies from Gift Wellness, and further engage with the community to secure additional donations. By positioning GP practices as community hubs, we aim to foster engagement with local businesses and charitable organisations to support those in need. 

Broader Impact 

Our initiative goes beyond immediate aid. By encouraging the community to participate, we aim to improve health outcomes through increased participation in preventative programmes like smear screenings and NHS health checks. The response has been overwhelmingly positive, with participating practices securing sustainable levels of donated products and sparking interest in establishing more hygiene stations. 

Voices from the Field 

Caroline Hine, Head of Strategy and Innovation at Qualitas, noted, “It’s exciting to see general practice leading on addressing period poverty. The commitment to this effort demonstrates that the heart of healthcare workers is in the communities they serve.” 

Dr. Zareen Roohi Ahmed, Founder of Gift Wellness, added, “GP offices offer a trusted location to access free products while raising awareness about this critical issue.” 

The Thornton Practice shared their experience: “We noticed we are now halfway through our products… and we’ve had positive feedback from patients. It sparked some good conversations with the team.” 

Join Us 

The pilot is open to any GP practice interested in joining. For more information, please contact us at [email protected].  

About Us 

Qualitas: As a leading advisory and training services company, Qualitas partners with NHS England to deliver award-winning training and development programmes, research, and organisational support. 

Gift Wellness: Established in 2013, the Gift Wellness Foundation provides sanitary pads to women and girls in need, both in the UK and globally. Founder Dr. Zareen Roohi Ahmed established the foundation to expand their charitable work.