Case Study: Tackling the Period Barrier in Sport with Hampshire Cricket Board
Overview
An astounding 64% of teenage girls drop out of sport by the time they turn 17, with periods cited as a key contributing factor. At FabLittleBag, we believe that no one should have to choose between their health and the sport they love.
That’s why we launched the Period Supportive Movement—a practical, empowering initiative helping clubs to remove periods as a barrier to participation, break down period stigma, and create truly inclusive environments for women and girls.
We've found that introducing period support early on, addresses the dropout rate, significantly boosts girls' confidence and encourages sustained participation throughout their sporting journey.
The Challenge
Despite the huge rise of women and girls playing sport particularly football and cricket, many clubs still lack basic toilet facilities for females with provision for responsible period disposal, i.e. bins in cubicles and free period products, should they be caught out.
Without the right facilities, products or understanding in place, young athletes often feel embarrassed, unsupported, and even excluded—particularly during their teenage years which ultimately leads them to drop out of sport altogether.
Our Collaborative Solution
In collaboration with Hampshire Cricket Board, based at the Utilita Bowl, FabLittleBag rolled out the Period Supportive Movement across 21 regional cricket clubs. This initiative equips clubs with a menu of products to choose from as every club has differing needs:
· FabLittleBag Coaches bags – a period first aid kit containing FabLittleBags for responsible disposal, tampons and pads. To be kept pitch side and taken to away matches
- FabLittleBag dispensers for each toilet cubicle ensuring easy and hygienic dispensing of the bags
- Access to free pads and tampons, stocked at both pitch-side in coaches bags and in toilets.
- Official Period Supportive kite marks to display on websites and materials to highlight their dedication to the cause.
- Downloadable educational posters raising awareness of the environmental harm caused by flushing products and wipes and promoting binning
Clubs like Alton, Yateley, South Winchester, and Fareham & Crofton Cricket Clubs are now proud to be recognised as period-friendly spaces—fostering confidence, inclusion, and participation.
The initiative was officially launched at the Women and Girls Expo on February 17th, 2024, providing an ideal setting to introduce this important step forward in inclusion and period support. The event brought together clubs, coaches, and women and girls’ leaders, setting the tone for a shared commitment to tackling the barriers periods can pose in cricket.
Why It Matters
64% of girls leave sports before age 17. This partnership is working to change that. By normalising period support and providing practical solutions, we’re helping create sports environments where girls feel confident to stay in the game.
The Sustainable Edge
Every FabLittleBag is thoughtfully designed with sustainability at its core—crafted from 60% sustainably sourced sugarcane and 30% recycled materials.
This commitment to sustainable design means our bags don’t just provide a discreet and hygienic way to bin period products; they also actively help reduce reliance on virgin plastic and lower the carbon footprint of everyday disposal habits.
Importantly, they also play a vital role in protecting both the environment and facility infrastructure. In the UK alone, 2.4 million tampons are flushed down toilets every day.
This contributes significantly to waterway pollution, harming marine life and disrupting fragile ecosystems. For clubs and community spaces, the consequences are also practical—flushed products can block delicate plumbing systems, leading to costly repairs, downtime, and environmental hazards.
By offering FabLittleBags in their facilities, sports clubs not only champion period inclusivity but also demonstrate their environmental responsibility. It’s a small act with a truly wide-reaching impact.
Looking Ahead
FabLittleBag is proud to work with forward-thinking organisations like Hampshire Cricket Board. Together, we’re laying the groundwork for a more inclusive, confident, and sustainable future in sport—and we’re just getting started.
👉 Want to join the movement? Click here to learn more about becoming a Period Supportive partner.
