We are an award winning, global leader in menstrual health programming, research, advocacy and policy development, transforming girls’ lives through period equality.
Irise’s vision is a world where everyone can realise their potential, unlimited by their periods. We support young people and their communities in the UK and East Africa to overcome menstruation related barriers- working on issues girls tell us are ways their periods hold them back. We deliver practical programmes, undertake innovative research and advocate for policy and practice change. We believe that when we are led by women and girls’ and informed by robust evidence, long lasting social change can be achieved.
We are a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO) established in 2014 with a UK Team of 3 staff managing a network of between 50-100 volunteers and advocates and a Ugandan Team of 13 staff managing a community network of over 100 people. Our annual turnover will be between £200,000-250,000 in 2020 and is increasing year on year.
A recent evaluation of our DFID funded project to create menstruation friendly schools in Uganda found a 50% reduction in menstrual related absenteeism and increases in girls scoring highly in their exams. One girl told us, ““Before I was fearful, I could not stay in friendship, I was fearful even coming to school, nowadays I am free, I go to school, I jump!"
In 2019 we were thrilled to receive the Power Together Award from the Global Women Leaders Forum in recognition of our exceptional contribution to the movement to end period poverty and shame. We are also excited to be part of the UK government’s Period Poverty Taskforce working to institutionalise period equality for everyone.
You can view a summary of our current strategic plan “Dismantling stigma, realising potential” here.
