09:00, 06 June 2025
Words by Cheyanne Bryan, Editorial and Campaign Marketing Executive, London
For another year WaterAid has teamed up with Glastonbury Festival to challenge stigma around periods and festivals.
This partnership between water and sanitation charity WaterAid and the UK’s biggest festival, Glastonbury, is on a mission to help people manage their periods while enjoying the festival and contributing to an environment where periods can be had at festivals.
For any festival-goers caught short, they would be able to pick up plastic-free disposable pads and tampons at all information points and WaterAid’s inclusive women’s urinals.
Additionally, WaterAid volunteers will manage period proud stations at four women’s urinals providing private spaces equipped with sinks, warm water and soap to clean reusable products, offering a choice for how people manage their period. This is a concept that was managed by WaterAid at Glastonbury Festival last year, ensuring that those who menstruate have the facilities to feel great and enjoy the festival.
A WaterAid survey found that a staggering 4 in 5 people who menstruate have planned activities around their period and 1 in 5 have changed plans if due to be on their period at an event.
Jane Healy, Sanitation Manager at Glastonbury Festival said: “Around 17,000 people will have their period at the Festival, but that won’t stop anyone from having a great time. We strive to make Glastonbury welcoming and inclusive, and we hope our period proud spaces and free period products will help people manage their period with dignity and let them enjoy everything the Festival has to offer.”
At Smiley Movement, we like to elevate the work of charities across the world. Here are three charities whose causes align with the themes in this article.
WaterAid. This is an international charity focused on providing clean water, decent toilets, and good hygiene to communities around the world. Their mission is to create a world where everyone has access to this human right. Learn more here.
Hey Girls. This is a social enterprise committed to ending period poverty in the UK by providing free, sustainable period products to those in need. Every product purchased helps fund donations and education on menstrual health. Support them here.
Just a drop. This is a UK-based charity dedicated to providing sustainable safe water, sanitation, and hygiene solutions to communities in need worldwide. Find out more here.
This article aligns with the UN SDG Clean Water and Sanitation, Partnerships for the Goals.
