Blackrock Village Centre has become the first shopping centre in Ireland to provide free period products to both customers and staff through a new partnership with Irish period care brand Riley.
The initiative, launched on 7 July, aims to make period care more accessible by providing free Riley period products in all bathrooms across the centre, allowing anyone who needs them to access essential products easily and with dignity.
Blackrock Village Shopping Centre launches free period product scheme. Photo credit: Marc O'Sullivan
The move comes amid ongoing concerns around period poverty and access to period products in public spaces. Research carried out by Aviva found that 82% of people in Ireland who menstruate have experienced difficulty finding period products in public venues.
Through the new partnership, Blackrock Village Centre hopes to remove barriers that can cause people to cut trips short, miss work or experience unnecessary stress due to not having access to period care.
The shopping centre, which welcomes more than 3 million visitors each year, said the initiative forms part of its wider commitment to creating a more inclusive and supportive environment for the local community.
The centre said period products should be viewed in the same way as other everyday essentials, such as toilet paper and soap, rather than as luxury items.
Blackrock Village Shopping Centre launches free period product scheme. Photo credit: Marc O'Sullivan
Speaking about the partnership, Niamh Grist, Centre Manager at Blackrock Village Centre, said: "At Blackrock Village Centre, we believe period products are an essential item, not a luxury, and they should be as easy to access as toilet paper. No one should have to cut their day short, feel embarrassed, or worry about being caught without the products they need."
"We’re delighted to be partnering with Riley on this initiative, their commitment to women's wellbeing, sustainability, and tackling period poverty aligns so closely with our own community-first values and our commitment to making the Centre a genuinely inclusive space. Our hope is that by making period products freely available throughout the Centre, we're helping to create a more welcoming environment."
The partnership also highlights the focus of both organisations on supporting Irish businesses and sustainable initiatives. Riley, a female-founded Irish period care brand, was created with sustainability and women’s wellbeing at its core.
Blackrock Village Shopping Centre launches free period product scheme. Photo credit: Marc O'Sullivan
Áine Kilkenny, Co-Founder of Riley, said the initiative would help tackle both practical barriers and stigma around period care.
"We’re really proud to partner with Blackrock Village Centre on this initiative. Access to period products is a basic necessity and making them freely available helps break down stigma and real, practical barriers," she said.
"At Riley, we’re committed to supporting women’s wellbeing and sustainability, and partnerships like this let us put that commitment into practice at community level."
The project builds on previous work by Aviva, which introduced free period products at Aviva Stadium earlier this year in partnership with Riley.
Natalia Wisniewska, Senior Asset Manager and Sustainability Lead at Aviva Life & Pensions Ireland, said expanding access into community spaces was an important step.
"It’s great to see this initiative being introduced at Blackrock Village Centre. Earlier this year, Aviva worked with Riley to introduce free period products at Aviva Stadium, and it is encouraging to be involved in an initiative that helps extend access to free period products into community spaces," she said.
"Providing free period products at the Centre helps create a more welcoming and inclusive environment for the local community."
Located in the heart of the local area, Blackrock Village Centre is home to more than 30 retailers across fashion, beauty, dining, books and hardware.
The free Riley period products are now available in all centre bathrooms on an ongoing basis.
