PERIOD PRODUCT ACCESS BOOSTED THROUGH DAME PARTNERSHIP

Football stadiums have a unique opportunity to become better equipped with period products, thanks to a new partnership between Her Game Too and DAME.

The lack of provision and maintenance in the female facilities at some football grounds has been one of the common issues raised to Her Game Too’s reporting line, now run in partnership with Kick It Out, although some trailblazing clubs do now provide free sanitary products.

A new relationship with sustainable period products company DAME will enable Her Game Too partner clubs throughout the football pyramid to install free dispensers, so women and girls will always have access to tampons and sanitary pads when visiting their grounds.

Arsenal Women and Manchester City Women are among the teams to have recently launched high profile partnerships relating to periods, with the Gunners joining forces with Persil on the Every Stain Should Be Part of the Game campaign and Man City players modelling pants by period underwear brand snuggs to promote their partnership.

Alec Mills, Co-Founder of DAME, said: “We believe everyone deserves to feel confident, comfortable and supported - on and off the pitch.

“We’re proud to partner with Her Game Too because we share the same belief: that football should be a game for everyone, and that includes tackling the very real, very human barriers that hold women and girls back.

“Periods shouldn’t be one of them.

“If you’re at a stadium or on the pitch and caught short, it can be stressful, even game-ruining. We want to help change that - confidently and sustainably.

“Let’s be honest, many stadiums were built with men in mind, but times have changed and the facilities need to catch up.

“For too long, period care in public venues has been an afterthought - if it’s been thought about at all.

“Whether you’re a fan, player, steward, or staff member, the ability to access period products in a stadium bathroom shouldn’t feel like a bonus, it should be a basic.”

DAME’s products are organic, toxin-free, plastic-free and designed to leave no trace, unlike some sanitary pads which can take 500 years to break down.

The company’s reusable dispensers are made from waste plastic, which can be made from plastic collected from around football grounds for a fully circular model.

Alec added: “We’re excited to be offering DAME dispensers to Her Game Too Ambassadors at partner clubs, so they can make sustainable period care a reality in their stadiums.

“The dispensers can be individually branded to have the logo of the club on the front, tying in the mission and the location.

“Clubs will be able to refill them directly from DAME at any time.

“The idea is to make period care easy, visible, and ongoing - not a one-off box in a drawer, but a permanent, proudly installed amenity.”

Chloe Watts, Her Game Too Ambassador for Bristol Rovers Women, who is leading on the partnership, said: “I’m absolutely delighted that Her Game Too have formed such a valuable partnership with DAME. 

“Ensuring stadiums have suitable sanitary products is something that I’m particularly passionate about.

“Attending the football should be an enjoyable experience, and no one should ever have to face the discomfort or stress of being unprepared for their period. 

“By forming a partnership with DAME and working with our partnered clubs, I believe we can truly make a huge difference in helping women feel more comfortable, respected, and supported at stadiums.”