Volleyball England partners with FabLittleBag in bid to become period supportive

It will bid to address one of the key causes of teenage girls dropping out of the sport – and why many women miss matches and training sessions – by helping them manage their periods while playing volleyball.  
 
FabLittleBag produces a range of discreet period disposal products that can be taken anywhere on and off court – and provides the means to dispose of them responsibly. 
 
Volleyball England has committed to providing access for all women and girls to these items at all its major events, free of charge. 
 
As part of its bid to be one of the first national governing bodies in the country to be period supportive, it will also offer 10 portable eco coach bags – containing organic tampons and pads, plus the means of disposing of them in an environmentally-friendly way – to clubs selected at random who sign up to back the campaign.  
 
“Through our partnership with FabLittleBag, we want to breakdown this taboo, educate our coaches and encourage clubs to give access to sanitary products at every practice and game,” said Volleyball England Chief Executive Officer, Charlie Ford.  
 
“Volleyball is a sport that has as many female participants as male, but this level of gender parity doesn’t currently transfer into coaching roles. It means the vast majority of our female teams have male coaches, for whom talking about such a subject can be an uncomfortable thing. 
 

“That is something we want to change over time because we want to remove this and any other barriers that exist to women and girls being able to participate in volleyball.”

The Five Nations Championships 2025 at the National Volleyball Centre from 3rd to 5th January will be the first event where FabLittleBag products will be available for use.
 
The New Year will also see a push for clubs to be period supportive rolled out across regions and counties to local league teams, not just those involved on a national level in the Super League and National Volleyball League (NVL). 
 
Volleyball England also plans to enlist several brand ambassadors to support the campaign on a regular basis.

Martha Silcott, Founder and CEO of FabLittleBag said: "We are proud to welcome Volleyball England to the Period Supportive Movement, championing the drive to eliminate periods as a barrier to participation for women and girls in sport, from grassroots to elite levels.

"By adopting this vital initiative, Volleyball England is demonstrating a commitment to inclusivity, breaking down stigmas, and creating a supportive environment where athletes of all ages and abilities can thrive.

"Together, we are empowering young women and girls to pursue the sport they love with confidence and without limitations, fostering a more equitable future in volleyball and beyond."

Clubs can purchase Fab Little Bag products at a discounted price by signing up and joining the movement to become a Period Supportive club by clicking here, or through VolleyStore. 

Affiliated volleyball clubs signing up for the pledge are asked to add 'VE' after their club name, for example, 'Cheltenham and Gloucester VE' to automatically enter a draw to win one of 10 portable eco coach bags. The winners will be announced by the end of January 2025. 

Find out more about FabLittleBag by clicking here.