‘Periods should never be the reason someone falls behind, feels ashamed, or loses access to education, opportunity, or independence.’
The Period Crate initiative was founded by University of Hull graduate Caitlin Anabelle.(Image: The Period Crate)
A Hull University graduate on a mission to tackle period poverty is expanding her pioneering project across the city. Caitlin Anabelle has founded The Period Crate, an initiative which provides free menstrual products through publicly accessible crates located across Hull.
Now the women’s health initiative is extending across the city, through free public period product crates, donation points, educational resources, and community support projects. At the moment, the brightly-painted pink crates can be found at Hull Minster, Jubilee Church FoodBank, and The Warren Project.
New crates will soon be opening inside Hull Central Library and Open Doors Hull. Alongside the crates, the project is also preparing to launch its first public donation bin inside Princes Quay, allowing members of the public to donate unopened menstrual products which can then be redistributed across crate locations throughout the city.
Caitlin explained how The Period Crate is entirely independently funded, stocked, and maintained, to help make menstrual support more accessible, visible, and judgement free within community spaces.
She said: “Ever since I was little, I knew exactly what I wanted to be. A marine biologist. I went to school, worked towards that goal, and eventually graduated from the University of Hull with my degree.
“But while building The Period Crate, I kept thinking about all the girls whose education and ambitions are disrupted by something as essential as their period. People are missing lessons, missing opportunities, and in some parts of the world leaving education entirely because they cannot access menstrual products.
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“That thought stayed with me. Periods should never be the reason someone falls behind, feels ashamed, or loses access to education, opportunity, or independence.
“Instead of only providing one pad or tampon as a quick fix, we try to ensure people can access full packs of products. The aim is that someone can take what they need to get through their cycle without immediately having to return or worry about running out again within a few hours. It’s about dignity, consistency, and reducing the cycle of scarcity.”
Caitlin, who starts a masters degree in women and Gender Studies at the University of York later this year, also runs Menstrual Mail, a monthly printed mail club which helps to support the continuation and expansion of the project through subscriptions.
Each edition contains project updates, menstrual health education, reflections, recommendations, and printed extras designed to encourage slower, more thoughtful engagement away from constant online scrolling.
She is also working on launching community pop-up events and care package projects in collaboration with local businesses and creative spaces across Hull. She is currently seeking further community partnerships, donation locations, collaborators, and supporters as the project continues to expand across the city.
She added: “The long term goal is for The Period Crate to eventually become national, with accessible public crates in towns and cities across the UK, alongside a free postal service allowing people to discreetly request monthly supplies of menstrual products if they are unable to access them otherwise. Beyond that, the dream is global. To help create a world where menstruation is never a deciding factor in someone’s education, wellbeing, opportunities, or future.”
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