Diss based period poverty organisation Hey Girls up for UK Social Enterprise Awards

A Diss-based social enterprise working to combat period poverty is in the running for three national awards.

Not-for-profit Hey Girls, which operates from a distribution centre in Victoria Road, has been shortlisted for the Technology Social Enterprise of the Year and Social Enterprise of the Year categories at the UK Social Enterprise Awards – while founder Celia Hodson and her team have been shortlisted in the Women in Social Enterprise category.

Having set up in 2018, the family-run organisation - which Mrs Hodson runs with her daughters Kate Smith and Bec Shutt - sells period products on a buy-one-donate-one model, with every box of products purchased matched with a donation to community partners.

Mrs Hodson, who lives in Eye, said: “We are thrilled to be shortlisted for such prestigious awards.

“Our services have been needed more than ever over the past year, with the cost of living crisis bringing with it a rise in the number of people living in period poverty here in the UK.

“Social enterprises up and down the UK are feeling a similar pressure and are in real need of support. To be shortlisted for these awards shows that hard work is being recognised, and we are very grateful for the honour.”

So far Hey Girls has provided more than 21 million products to women’s refuges, foodbanks and homeless shelters across the world.

The UK Social Enterprise Awards are run by Social Enterprise UK, the UK’s leading membership body for social enterprises and recognise excellence and innovation in UK social enterprises.

Peter Holbrook, chief executive of Social Enterprise UK, said social enterprises like Hey Girls are “trailblazers” who put people and the planet first and empower communities.

“In these turbulent times, they are a beacon of innovation, optimism and resilience,” he said.

“Those who have made the shortlist of these awards have proven their business’ ability to weather the storm of the pandemic, keeping their business and their mission on track.

“The challenges we face as a society demand new approaches and a shift in the way that businesses big and small act.

“The entries for this year’s award continue to inspire, innovate and show us all how businesses can help us meet many of these challenges head on.”

Winners of each category will be announced at the Roundhouse in London on December 8.

A poll of 1,000 UK girls aged between 14 and 21, carried out by children’s charity Plan International UK, revealed that 28 per cent struggle to purchase period products, while 19 per cent reported being unable to afford products in 2022.

Mrs Dodson added: “It is unacceptable that almost one in five young girls are now struggling to pay for such a basic necessity as period products.

“No-one should be left to struggle to pay for something perfectly natural – pads and tampons are not a luxury.

“People are having to turn to unsafe alternatives because they can’t afford to buy food or pay their bills. That is never okay.”