Period charity Binti International has launched the UK’s first period charity shop dedicated to ensuring accessibility to menstruation products and information.

The shop opened its doors this week in Walton on Thames, Surrey, where the council became the first in England to provide free period products across 55 sites, including libraries, offices, retail stores, public buildings and places of worship.

Surrey County Council adopted Binti’s Dignity At Work campaign to increase access to products to those who need them and work towards removing the stigma attached to periods.

It comes after a report by Plan International, released last month, found that more than one in four (28 per cent) girls between the ages of 14 and 21 are struggling to afford period products in the UK.

Of the 1,000 girls polled, the report also revealed that nearly one in five (19 per cent) reported being unable to afford period products at all since the start of 2022.

Binti’s new period charity shop aims to provide free disposable period products, and will also hold menstrual health workshops, display menstrual artwork, and sell various types of products including biodegradable and reusable products.

Manjit K Gill, CEO of Binti, tells The Independent that having a physical space has piqued the curiosity of many passing by the shop, including women and girls of all ages, and some men.

“For us, working at a community level has always been important. Our work with Surrey County Council has been doing so well, so we thought to ourselves, how do we add more value?” she says.

“With the shop, anyone can come in and look at all the types of products we have available and, most importantly, have conversations with us. Girls have been coming in and talking about their periods as though I’m their best friend.