LONDON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Going through puberty comes with a lot of changes to a girl’s body and emotions. When a period happens for the first time, girls should have been supported to feel ready and confident. With nearly 1 in 3 (32%) girls in the UK feeling scared about starting their first period, Always wants to shine a light on the critical role that honest and relatable puberty and period education schools can have on young girls’ confidence and preparedness.
Accessible education and open conversations about puberty and periods in schools is crucial to helping students embrace their changing bodies with confidence, and creating a culture of acceptance and preparedness when it comes to periods and hormone cycles. However, research reveals that 60% of UK students find puberty lessons in the classroom either embarrassing or uncomfortable, with 1 in 3 (32%) saying that their peers mess around or don’t pay attention during them.
This is why Always is on a mission to help level-up period prep in schools across the UK as part of their Always About You schools programme, which delivers puberty and period lessons in classrooms up and down the country. To raise awareness about the programme and demonstrate the importance of period education for puberty-aged girls and how their wider network can be supportive allies, Always is working with actress and singer Molly Rainford and GP Dr Aziza Sesay who hosted a special ‘Always Period Prep School’ event at Lilian Baylis School in London on 21st November 2023. This event, which focused on educating and preparing girls about their cycle, is one of many activities that Always is doing to ensure that the content of their school’s programme remains relevant, topical and engaging for young girls across the country.
The event kicked off with an honest and informative discussion between Molly and Dr Aziza about the physical and emotional changes that happen during our monthly cycles, and some tips and tricks such as what to eat, when you need extra rest, and how to openly communicate about these changes with friends and family. By starting the day with an educational piece, the foundations were set for the creative workshops. In the workshops, the students put what they had learnt from the discussion into practice with the creation of materials like posters and pledges to help visually convey the tips that they wish they had known and that they think other girls would benefit from. Some of these creations will be taken and used by the Always team to be added into the National About You Schools Programme, with the aim of helping other girls to prepare for their first period and beyond.
Actress and singer Molly Rainford, reflects on the day, “It was so inspiring to see all the students fully engaged in important topics around period education. They put their knowledge to the test by taking part in creative workshops, where they designed artwork and pledges as groups for their school, which will help make information around period prep even more digestible and accessible for them and their peers. The winning group’s artwork will be expertly designed and go on to be included in the Always About You programme’s education resources nationally, to help all girls across the UK feel prepared. Programmes like Always About You show how much puberty education has progressed since I was at school and the way this will support the next generation during such a pivotal point in their lives.”
GP Dr Aziza Sesay says, "It’s so important that everyone is aware that periods are completely normal and nothing to be embarrassed about. I’m very passionate about period and menstrual health education – it all starts with the basics and when we get it right early, it makes such a positive difference in how these topics are perceived and discussed. These conversations need to be normalised - no one should ever feel alone or suffer in silence. It’s essential that both girls and boys learn about this, understand their bodies, what their normal is and what to expect throughout puberty. Period education for all can also help to enhance confidence, compassion and support; it can ultimately help make girls feel better prepared about what to expect. Knowledge is truly power. The more they know, the better.”
The Always About You schools programme is at the heart of Always’ mission to improve period support and guidance; aiming to reach half a million students, teachers, parents, and carers in the UK every year. The curriculum-linked programme equips teachers with class packs, digital resources, free products, and lesson guides to support them in the classroom. Teachers can sign up to the programme where they can access a wealth of classroom materials that are regularly added to: https://nationalschoolspartnership.com/initiatives/about-you-2023-2024/
Emma Gerrard, Brand Director at Always, says, “We’re proud of the Always About You programme and the evolution it has had over the years. We want to ensure that it continues to meet the needs of not just the students but the teachers who deliver the programme and days like this really allow us to listen and learn. The content needs to be engaging and relatable and what better way to do that than having the students here today help shape it!”
About Always
Always®, the world's leader in menstrual protection, offers a wide range of pads and liners designed to fit different body types, period flows and preferences. For over 35 years, Always has been empowering millions of young people globally through puberty and confidence education, providing products to those in need and tackling societal barriers to their confidence through programmes like Always #LikeAGirl and #KeepHerPlaying. Together, Always believes we can create a world where neither periods nor gender get in the way of young people reaching their full potential. Please visit www.always.co.uk for more information.
About Procter & Gamble
P&G serves consumers around the world with one of the strongest portfolios of trusted, quality, leadership brands, including Always®, Ambi Pur®, Ariel®, Bold®, Braun®, Daz®, Fairy®, Febreze®, Gillette®, Head & Shoulders®, Herbal Essences®, Lenor®, Olay®, Oral-B®, Pampers®, Pantene®, Tampax®, Venus® and Vicks®. Although headquartered in the US, P&G was founded by an Englishman and an Irishman in 1837, our heritage lives on through the work of around 2500 people across 10 sites, including R&D Centres, Manufacturing Plants and Business sites, across the UK & Ireland. To learn more about P&G UK and Ireland, our brands, and our Citizenship programmes, please visit our website, download our Northern Europe Citizenship Report, or follow us on our social channels (Twitter @PGUK and Instagram @pgukandireland)
Survey Stats
This online survey of 1000 UK Parents and their children aged 8 - 16 was commissioned by PG One and conducted by market research company OnePoll, in accordance with the Market Research Society's code of conduct. Data was collected between 28th-30th June 2023. All participants are double opted in to take part in research and are paid an amount depending on the length and complexity of the survey. This survey was overseen and edited by the OnePoll research team. OnePoll are MRS Company Partners, have corporate membership of ESOMAR and Members of the British Polling Council.
