Blog - Wen

The latest updates from Wen. You can search the blogs by campaign and issue using the tags below.

CLIMATE SISTERS/ Environmenstrual/ FEMINIST GREEN NEW DEAL/ food/ GREEN BABY/ news/

SOIL SISTERS/ TOXIC chemicals

PLAYING SAFE: WHY TOYS SHOULDN’T COST OUR CHILDREN’S HEALTH

This Green Baby Day (11 June 2025), Wen is calling for stronger protections, safer toys and environmental justice for all…

BECOME A MENSY AMBASSADOR

Could you be a Menstruation, Empowerment and Sustainability (Mensy) Ambassador for your organisation? We are looking for 30 youth leaders…

WEN’S RESPONSE TO THE GOOD FOOD LOCAL REPORT

7th May 2025 WEN’S RESPONSE TO THE LONDON GOOD FOOD – LOCAL AND BEYOND THE FOOD BANK REPORT With the…

YEAR 2 - CREATIVE SHOWCASE 1 - CLAUDIA JONES & REVOKE

YEAR 2 – CREATIVE SHOWCASE 3 – CLAUDIA JONES & REVOKE

Meet the Climate Sisters and find out about their creative project on climate change aimed to disrupt the narrative and…

RESPONSE TO BBC ARTICLE – WHICH PERIOD PRODUCT IS THE MOST CLIMATE-FRIENDLY?

Thank you to Ana Santi and the BBC for shining a much needed spotlight on period products in this recent…

FALMOUTH UNIVERSITY - ART STUDENT COLLABORATION

FOOD LIVES: CAPTURING TOWER HAMLETS’ CULINARY HERITAGE THROUGH ART

In an exciting project, the Food Lives team have collaborated with art students from Falmouth University to visually show the…

HOW CAN WE CREATE SAFE, HEALTHY MENSTRUATION FOR ALL?

HOW CAN WE CREATE SAFE, HEALTHY MENSTRUATION FOR ALL? Three Perspectives. The period educator. The health expert. The innovator.…

FOOD COOPS – FROM FOOD INSECURITY TO COMMUNITY POWER

Read interviews with members and organisers from food coops, around London to find out how they organise their food coops…

INTRODUCING WEN’S STRATEGY

Read a message from Wen’s Co-Directors, Kate Metcalf and Zarina Ahmad about our new strategy for 2025-2030.…

DEVELOPING CLIMATE-RESILIENT SEEDS FOR BANGLADESHI CULTURAL VEGETABLES

Read about how Food Lives is looking at ways to make organic Bangladeshi cultural vegetables, readily available and in a…

Food Lives - Connecting with the Sussex Participatory Research Network

FOOD LIVES – SHARING AND CONNECTING

The Food Lives team were invited to share their research methods with the Bristol Food Justice Network and our community…

FOOD LIVES – SHARING RESEARCH METHODS – HELSINKI, FINLAND

In January 2024 the Food Lives team attended the 7th European Congress Qualitative Enquiry (ECQE) in Helsinki, Finland, to present…

BBC’S TALC TALES: ASBESTOS IN MAKEUP AND TALCUM POWDER

With the start of a new series on Radio 4, Talc Tales: How they made us doubt everything, asbestos in…

ENVIRONMENSTRUAL AMBASSADOR DRIVE 2024 (1200 x 600 px)

ENVIRONMENSTRUAL AMBASSADOR TRAINING WORKSHOPS

As part of the Reduce, Reuse your Cycle project with North London Waste Authority (NLWA), Wen is looking for 30 volunteers based…

WHAT WE WANT TO SEE FROM THE NEXT GOVERNMENT

With the general election taking place today, we’re pausing to reflect on what action we want to see from the…

EDUCATION IS FAILING TO PREPARE YOUNG PEOPLE FOR PERIODS: THE PROBLEMS AND SOLUTIONS

Read about the findings from a research project about menstrual education and the ways it needs to be improved.…

YEAR 1 CLIMATE SISTERS CREATIVE SHOWCASE 1 – LIC AND ELM

Meet the Climate Sisters and find out about their creative project on climate change aimed to disrupt the narrative and…

WHY AREN’T TOXIC CHEMICALS ON THE PUBLIC HEALTH AGENDA?

Read our summary of our webinar exploring why toxic chemicals are not on the public health agenda.…

WHY SOLIDARITY WITH PALESTINE IS INTEGRAL TO INTERSECTIONAL FEMINISM AND CLIMATE JUSTICE

Why solidarity with Palestine is integral to intersectional feminism and climate justice.…

MENSTRUATION: EMPOWERMENT AND SUSTAINABILITY (MENSY) 

Find out about our new Erasmus funded project called “Menstruation: Empowerment and Sustainability”(MENSY).…

ENVIRONMENSTRUAL – WORKING WITH NORTH LONDON WASTE AUTHORITY

Wen has partnered up with North London Waste Authority (NLWA) to deliver a behaviour change project to increase the purchase…

REUSABLE NAPPY WEEK 2024

REUSABLE NAPPY WEEK – ONE CHANGE BIG DIFFERENCE! Reusable Nappy Week 2024 aims to raise awareness about the benefits of reusable…

NEW EXPERIMENTAL FOOD PROJECTS IN TOWER HAMLETS

Find out about the community-led food revolution taking place in Tower Hamlets - with new experimental food projects. …

FOOD LIVES PODCAST – FOOD HISTORY TOUR OF TOWER HAMLETS

Come on a food tour of Tower Hamlets in this new podcast. Journeying through time and racial and ethnic spaces,…

A FEMINIST GREEN NEW DEAL FOR REPRODUCTIVE JUSTICE

REPRODUCTIVE JUSTICE AND THE CLIMATE EMERGENCY IN THE UK Wen and Birth Companions have published a paper looking at the…

ADDITIVES IN PERIOD PRODUCTS, A CHEMICAL SOLUTION FOR A SOCIAL PROBLEM?

Recent tests on a range of period pants found unnecessary high levels of silver which could have unknown health implications…

LIMBOROUGH GROWS WILD

Read about our project with Grow Wild, Royal Botanical Gardens Kew - transforming the gardens at Limborough Community Hub.…

SHARING THE YEAR AT WEN – 2023

Find out what Wen has been up to during 2023 and how your support has helped to achieve so much.…

EMBRACING AUTUMN – WEN’S AUTUMN GATHERING

AUTUMN GATHERING – NOVEMBER 2023 Our Autumn Gathering of Tower Hamlets Food Growing Network took place at the brand new…

HOW TO CREATE SUSTAINABLE PERIOD APPAREL GUIDE

Read this new guide offering inspiration and direction to any brands looking to produce or add period apparel to their…

THE ATTITUDES OF GENERATION Z TOWARDS REUSABLE MENSTRUAL PRODUCTS

Drawing on research this blog explores why girls and young people who menstruate are reticent to use reusables and what…

GROWING TOGETHER WITH TOWER HAMLETS FOOD GROWERS: MEET SWEDENBORG ORCHARD

Genia Leontowitsch from Swedenborg Orchard shares how they use different compost and mulches for different growing spaces in the garden…

EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT REUSABLE PERIOD PRODUCTS BUT WERE TOO AFRAID TO ASK!

Everything you need to know about reusable period products but were afraid to ask - we've put together this guide…

FOOD JUSTICE – RESHAPING THE NARRATIVE AROUND FOOD INSECURITY

A new series of blogs speaking to people who are at the forefront of creating inclusive food models and reshaping…

WHY WE NEED A MENSTRUAL HEALTH, DIGNITY AND SUSTAINABILITY ACT

For Environmenstrual Day 2023 Wen is urgently calling for a Menstrual Health, Dignity and Sustainability Act (MHDS) in the UK.…

FOOD DIARIES – LEARNING HOW THE FOOD SYSTEM AND POLICY SHAPES WHAT AND HOW WE EAT

Read about "Food Lives Tower Hamlets" a new programme focussing on the importance of history, culture and heritage on our…

Visiting the vegetable stalls at Watney Market

FOOD SHOPALONGS – LEARNING WHAT INFLUENCES FOOD BUYING CHOICES

Read about "Food Lives Tower Hamlets" a new programme focussing on the importance of history, culture and heritage on our…

WOMEN’S HEALTH STRATEGY MUST INCLUDE GENDERED IMPACTS OF TOXIC CHEMICALS

Read our letter to the Women's Health Ambassador calling for the Womens Health Strategy to address exposure to toxic chemicals…

NEWS FROM LIMBOROUGH COMMUNITY FOOD HUB – 2023

Find out what we have been up to at Limborough Community Food Hub and Garden.…

GARDENING TOGETHER AT LIMBOROUGH – TIPS AND IDEAS FROM OUR WORKSHOPS

Read about our gardening workshops at Limborough community garden - which have included: how to manage pests, how to care…

WHAT’S THE PROBLEM WITH MINERAL OILS IN BABY SKINCARE?

Find out about the differences between mineral oils and plant oils in skincare products and what to look out for,…

WEN SECURES SUPPORT FROM PROPEL FUNDING COLLABORATION

Wen is excited to have secured a grant from City Bridge Trust, through the Propel initiative. The three year funding,…

MEET THE CLIMATE SISTERS

BRINGING WOMEN’S VOICES TO THE CLIMATE TABLE The Climate Sisters ‘Local Women of the World at the Climate Table’ project,…

CLIMATE SISTERS LONDON

Find out about The Climate Sisters London project, funded by propel, which aims to make systemic change by amplifying marginalised…

REUSABLE NAPPY WEEK 2023

REUSABLE NAPPY WEEK Reusable Nappy Week, taking place from 24th – 30th April 2023, aims to raise awareness about the…

GROWING WELLNESS – WEN’S SPRING GATHERING

SPRING GATHERING – MARCH 2023 Our Spring Gathering of the Tower Hamlets Food Growers took place at Bromley By Bow…

PLANT BASED RECIPES FROM LIMBOROUGH HUB

We're sharing our plant based recipes from our recent cooking workshop - winter tacos, chickpea curry, kebab and pumpkin cake…

JUST FACT GRANT SCHEME COMING IN MARCH 2023

GRANTS FOR TOWER HAMLETS

As part of the Just Food and Climate Transition (Just FACT) programme, we’re really excited to be launching a new…

WOMEN OF BETHNAL GREEN AT WORK

Han Smith, Just FACT Mobiliser visited a new photography exhibition ‘Women of Bethnal Green at Work’ Here she shares some…

SUPPORTING MORE PEOPLE TO GROW THEIR OWN FOOD

Wen has just secured 2 years of funding from the City Bridge Trust for our work on the Tower Hamlets…

THE CULTIVATING JUSTICE PODCAST

"Cultivating Justice" a brilliant new podcast which challenges stereotypes of who farms and grows and what connection to the…

REUSABLE PERIOD PRODUCTS IN HOSPITALS

Find out from Jacqueline, occupational therapist at Great Ormond Street Hospital how reusable period products are making a real difference…

MEET THE ENVIRONMENSTRUAL AMBASSADORS

Read our interviews with Environmenstrual Ambassadors discussing their work and experiences and how it has complemented the work they do. …

BALCONY HARVEST 2022

Find out what Shaheda has been growing and harvesting from her balcony this year. Plus she shares tips of saving seeds.…

MAKING WOMEN’S PATHS TO LEADERSHIP EASIER

Women of colour, women with disabilities and LGBTQ+ women experience intersecting forms of discrimination that can affect their career progression…

PERIOD EDUCATION FOR TEACHERS

Find out about Wen's unbiased period education training for secondary school teachers and council staff.…

MENSTRUAL SHAME

Menstrual shame is a major barrier, not only in our ability to tackle issues like the lack of education but also…

JUST AND SUSTAINABLE FOOD – CONVERSATION WITH DEE WOODS AND ROKIAH YAMAN

Dee Woods, Granville Community Kitchen and Rokiah Yaman from London LEAP share their pioneering models for a just and sustainable…

UK BECOMES PLAYGROUND FOR GM EXPERIMENTS

As the UK becomes the playground for GM experiments find out what genetic engineering really means for you, your family…

LIMBOROUGH FOOD HUB

Find out more about the Limborough food hub based in the London Borough of Tower Hamlets.…

CLIMATE ACTION – CELEBRATING TOWER HAMLETS PROJECTS

Find out how the community in Tower Hamlets is tackling climate change and improving local food through the Just FACT…

BRINGING GREEN CARE TO A WOMEN’S REFUGE

Find out how Green Care - gardening, crafts and cooking, is making a real difference to the women in a…

5 THINGS WE’VE LEARNED FROM JUST FACT

Find out what we have learned in our first year of the Just FACT programme, creating a climate-friendly food system…

VEGANUARY – FOOD TO NURTURE AND NOURISH

Make sure you are nourishing and nurturing yourself with food this Veganuary. Enjoy our favourite plant based recipes and top…

SUPER WOMEN AT COP26

Read about Wen's time at COP26 with the Climate Sisters. We may not have had a place at the decision-making…

FOOD AND THE CLIMATE CRISIS

Why was food not on the agenda at COP26, when it creates around a third of global greenhouse gas emissions?…

3 WAYS TO DEMAND TRANSPARENCY IN PERIOD PRODUCTS

Take action to demand greater transparency and specific regulation for all period products. Sign the open letter, write to your…

GROWING HOPE – WEN’S AUTUMN GATHERING

September saw the welcome return of Wen’s popular seasonal gatherings! Read on to find out more.…

CLIMATE SISTERS PILOT

Find out about the pilot Climate Sisters project, giving a voice to marginalised women in climate debates.…

DO WE HAVE THE RIGHT TO A HEALTHY PERIOD?

With the UN HRC recognising the right to a healthy & sustainable environment, we explore the issues around healthy &…

WHAT’S IN A LOW CARBON LUNCH?

At Limborough Hub, in the heart of the Burdett estate in Poplar, we celebrated a Low Carbon Lunch! Read on…

IS YOUR VAGINA HAPPY WITH YOUR PERIOD PRODUCTS?

Help ensure that period products are safe for us, for wildlife and for the planet by completing this very short…

NEW YORK AND CALIFORNIA LEAD THE WAY IN PERIOD PRODUCT TRANSPARENCY

In the UK it is a requirement to list ingredients in food and cosmetic products, but not in period or…

DO WE HAVE A RIGHT TO KNOW WHAT IS IN OUR PERIOD PRODUCTS?

EVENT - 13TH OCTOBER 4.30PM, ENVIRONMENSTRUAL WEEK - BOOK NOW!…

LAUNCHING CLIMATE ACTION IN TOWER HAMLETS

Get the low down on what the Just FACT community partners have been up to - helping to transform our…

SOCIAL JUSTICE MOVEMENTS IN LONDON’S EAST END

Read about the amazing people who took action to bring justice to their community, and whose work has reverberated across…

IN THE SPOTLIGHT – FATIMA AND ANEITA

Meet Aneita and Fatima, our Just FACT Blueprint Architects a group of residents who care about creating positive change in…

WHAT DO PEOPLE REALLY THINK OF THE FOOD SYSTEM?

Find out what people really think of our food system. Find out the details from our recent survey.…

IN THE SPOTLIGHT – LEADERS IN COMMUNITY

Meet Sunara and Momtaz, from Leaders in Community (LiC) to find out more about their involvement in Just Fact.…

TOWER HAMLETS AWARDED SUSTAINABLE FOOD PLACES BRONZE AWARD

Tower Hamlets has been awarded the Sustainable Food Places Bronze which recognises the success of places taking a joined up…

WHY CLIMATE ACTION MUST HAVE JUSTICE AT ITS HEART

Guest blog by Kennedy Walker, London Leap discussing why any climate action must have justice at its heart…

20 THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT PERIODS!

20 facts you never knew about periods! From environmental, economic, social and health issues with conventional period products.…

FRAGRANCE IN PERIOD PRODUCTS

Find out about #FragranceFreePeriods survey and watch our discussion with Dr. Leila Frodsham, Consultant Gynaecologist…

R urban Poplar - Andy. Part of the Just FACT programme - climate Transition

IN THE SPOTLIGHT – R URBAN POPLAR

Meet Andy, one of the coordinators at R Urban Poplar, one of the partners helping to deliver Just FACT project.…

Linda and Maud, Sunny Hub Eco Hub - climate and food

IN THE SPOTLIGHT – SUNNY JAR ECO HUB

Meet Linda and Maud the two founders of Sunny Jar one of the partners helping to deliver Just FACT project.…

PROBLEMATIC CHEMICALS IN COSMETICS & WHAT TO DO

Guest blog by The Chem Trust - exploring the harmful chemicals that can be present in everyday cosmetics and make…

IN THE SPOTLIGHT – LONDON LEAP

Meet Kennedy, coordinator at London Leap in Tower Hamlets, one of the partners helping to deliver Just FACT project.…

IN THE SPOTLIGHT – CRANBROOK COMMUNITY FOOD GARDEN

Meet Freya from Cranbrook Community Gardens in Tower Hamlets, one of the amazing partners helping to deliver Just FACT,…

5 ALTERNATIVES TO PESTICIDES

Pesticides - Clyo explains the potential risks of using pesticides in our green spaces as well as showing healthier alternatives.…

WHY BABIES AND PREGNANT WOMEN SHOULD AVOID SYNTHETIC CHEMICALS

Find out about some of the top chemicals to avoid while pregnant or for young babies.…

5 REASONS WHY WE NEED A FEMINIST GREEN NEW DEAL

In this article, volunteer Alice Russell looks at who and what a Feminist Green New Deal could really benefit… …

CONSCIOUS GARDENING – FOOD GROWING TIPS

Conscious gardeing - Clyo explains why February may not be the best time to sow seeds and start off new…

ENVIRONMENSTRUAL CAMPAIGN IMPACT REPORT 2019/2020

Read our impact report for the Environmenstrual Campaign - Plastic-Free Periods project 2019/20.…

THE (UN)SUBTLE CONNECTION BETWEEN THE MEDIA, GENDER AND FOOD

For a multitude of reasons, vegetarianism and veganism has seen a spike in popularity, particularly in women - but why is…

IMPACT STORY – SOIL SISTERS

A photo essay of how the Soil Sisters project supported women through traumatic transitions by co-creating gardens to enjoy and…

IMPACT STORY – ENVIRONMENSTRUAL AMBASSADOR

Enviromenstrual Ambassador, Cathy Mears, shares her experience of delivering Environmenstrual workshops & what she has learned along the way.…

IMPACT STORY – FOOD PANTRY

Read about The Food Store, a community pantry on the Burdett Estate in Poplar, East London.…

IMPACT STORY – KEEP GROWING CAMPAIGN

Our Keep Growing campaign supported individuals to grow their own food in Tower Hamlets. Here we share some photos and…

THE HARMFUL CHEMICALS THAT MIGHT BE PRESENT IN YOUR MENSTRUAL PRODUCTS

Guest blog by The Chem Trust - exploring the harmful chemicals that can be present in conventional menstrual products including…

EMPOWERING OUR COMMUNITY TO TAKE CLIMATE ACTION TOGETHER – PACCT

Read about PACCT - a group of local residents in Bethnal Green joining forces to do things that reduce the impact we have on the planet. …

WHY AREN’T SCHOOLS SIGNING UP TO GET FREE PERIOD PRODUCTS FOR THEIR STUDENTS?

Read about the free period product scheme available to schools' and colleges and why it should be utilized.…

JUST FACT – TAKING CLIMATE ACTION WITH FOOD

Read about a new programme, Just FACT, supporting community led climate action in Tower Hamlets - focussing on reducing the…

PLASTIC FREE PERIODS REFRAMED

New series: Plastic Free Periods Reframed - recognising the amazing Women and People of Colour, contributing to the #plasticfreeperiods conversation.…

BLACK LIVES MATTER

Wen's response to #blacklivesmatters…

GROWING GIFTS, LOVE FROM WEN

Shaheda, Garden Outreach has been sharing her seedlings with neighbours and friends to ensure everyone can keep growing.…

WHAT IS A FEMINIST GREEN NEW DEAL?

Find out what a Feminist Green New Deal would look like in the UK. Read the policy paper and find…

BALCONY GROWING WITH SHAHEDA 2 – SEED SOWING

In the second in a series, Shaheda, Garden Outreach Lead shares her journey of growing on her balcony.…

COVID, FOOD AND COMMUNITY RESILIENCE

As a public health emergency, Coronavirus is also revealing the fragility of the UK’s food system. Impacts on supply and…

BALCONY GROWING WITH SHAHEDA 1 – BALCONY BLOOMS DURING COVID-19

In the first of a series, Shaheda, Garden Outreach Lead will be sharing tips and ideas for growing flowers and…

SCHOOL GUIDELINES FOR PERIOD PRODUCTS MAY NEED AN OVERHAUL

Environmenstrual Coalition raises concerns with Department for Education over its advice to schools on how pupils should use reusable menstrual…

WHAT WOULD A FEMINIST FUTURE AND RESPONSE TO THE CLIMATE CRISIS LOOK LIKE? – DR SHERILYN MACGREGOR

We speak to Professor Sherilyn MacGregor. Sherilyn is an academic at The University of Manchester whose research focuses on the relationship…

HOW TO HAVE A WENDERFUL CHRISTMAS

So how do you have an eco-conscious Christmas without becoming a seasonal Scrooge? Read our top tips for a…

SOIL SISTERS – ECOFEMINISM IN PRACTICE

How does ecofeminism work in practice? - Wen Volunteer, Simone Due Rasmussen shares some of her experiences, insights and…

EXPORTING THE CLIMATE CRISIS?

New figures by the Office for National Statistics show that the UK has become the biggest importer of carbon dioxide…

WEN LAUNCHES EMERGING ENVIRONMENTAL LEADERS PROGRAMME

Wen has launched a feminist leadership programme for emerging environmental change-makers in Tower Hamlets. Over the year long programme, funded…

PERIOD EDUCATION PROGRAMME

Did you know that Tampax and Lil Lets give free menstrual education in schools? Wen thinks it’s pretty dodgy that…

HOW EFFECTIVE ARE MENSTRUAL CAMPAIGNS IN REACHING BAME WOMEN?

Mainstream activism into women’s menstrual experiences place ‘women’ as a standalone category and does not take into consideration minority women’s…

WHAT’S IN YOUR CARPET?

There is an increasing awareness among consumers that the products we have in our homes are in some cases impacting…

SOIL SISTERS – TRANSFORMING MORE THAN GARDENS

The ability of gardening and growing your own food to inspire learning and discovery of common ground between people coming…

NEW TAMPON TESTING REVEALS UNDISCLOSED CARCINOGENS AND REPRODUCTIVE TOXINS

Environmenstrual Coalition member Women’s Voices for the Earth (WVE) has released independent product-testing results that reveal undisclosed toxic chemicals in…

LETTER TO THE DEPT FOR EDUCATION – PERIOD PRODUCT SCHEME

Wen is calling on the government to revise their guidance on reusable period products, which are being made available to…

CLIMATE SISTERS: LOCAL WOMEN OF THE WORLD AT THE CLIMATE TABLE

Women Change Maker programme involves monthly workshops where participants are r encouraged to think creatively about climate change and will…