Globally renowned actress Nicola Coughlan has teamed up with Uber Eats to help thousands of women, girls and people who menstruate get access to menstrual products for free.

An unfortunate byproduct of the rising cost of living is that more people are expected to experience period poverty this year. 

To address that, the film and television star and the technology platform have announced Uber Eats will donate one period product for every period product sold via the Uber Eats app from today until the end of the year to women’s services network WESNET and others through a donation program with Share the Dignity. 

The Irish star recently filmed a campaign in Australia to remind people that period products were available on the Uber Eats app, but before shooting the spots the actor and the Uber Eats team decided the campaign needed to go beyond being a memorable brand film, it needed to be impactful.  

“I wanted to use my involvement with Uber Eats to both showcase the availability of period relief products on the app but also to raise awareness about the very real barriers to accessing these important items for women, girls and people who menstruate right across Australia. I really hope that the campaign will have a positive impact long after my commercials have stopped airing,” said Coughlan.

“We always want our Uber Eats campaigns to bring joy and drive business impact but this time it’s different. I know the entire team is super focused on this being a success because every period product purchased on the Uber Eats app will generate another for people who might not be able to afford one and we want to help as many people access these essential products as we can,” said Uber’s Senior Director, Head of International Marketing Lucinda Barlow.

Uber has a multi-year affiliation with WESNET by offering Uber rides to women who are escaping violence but are building on that partnership to help ensure people they’re supporting are also able to access period products at no cost. 

“Uber has long supported WESNET by providing hundreds of women escaping violence access to free rides through our network of specialist domestic and family violence services. We are delighted to expand our partnership with Uber Eats on such a meaningful initiative. The cost of living in Australia is a pressing issue, especially for women who are experiencing family violence which often involves financial abuse. Starting a new life in safety is very costly and the services that support women are also severely underfunded – so every little bit really helps. This initiative will offer survivors access to manage one of their basic needs, period products,” said CEO of WESNET Karen Bentley. 

Every pad or tampon purchased through the Uber Eats app will result in a donation to Share the Dignity who will make the tampons, pads and liners available at no cost to all women in their network including WESNET. 

“I am delighted to see a prominent global company tackling period poverty. This ground-breaking partnership will allow us to amplify our impact and get more period products into the hands of those who need them. This collaboration with Uber Eats and world-renowned actress, Nicola Coughlan, is truly a game-changer in many facets as we work to normalise periods and end the shame and stigma. It’s an exciting time for menstruators everywhere, as getting period products dropped straight to your door and helping someone in need at the same time becomes a reality,” said Founder of Share the Dignity, Rochelle Courtenay.

Uber Eats will run bespoke creative to raise awareness of the one for one offer and to promote Share the Dignity.