Girls hold up Half the Sky in cricket – three years on

Three years ago, Lewes Priory Cricket Club made what seemed like a small change: their mixed junior teams swapped the traditional white kit for a bold new black one, sponsored by Half the Sky. 

It wasn’t about modernising the look or boosting morale. It was a decision made in pursuit of inclusion. 

The club recognised something many still overlook: that girls as young as nine can start their periods, and white sportswear creates unnecessary anxiety. Coloured kit for girls and boys meant no one had to sit out, opt out, or feel out of place. They paired it with a lending scheme to make it accessible to all. Simple, thoughtful, effective. 

Three years on, this decision still matters - not because it was headline-grabbing at the time, but because it wasn’t. It was a quiet, practical move to remove a barrier before it became a problem. And that’s the kind of inclusion we need more of: early, embedded, and unremarkable in the best possible way. 

At Half the Sky, the name we wear on those shirts comes from the ancient proverb: “Women hold up half the sky.” We chose it as a reminder that equality should never be an afterthought. And in this case, it wasn’t. 

Since then, we’ve seen more conversations about menstrual health and menopause in the workplace. Some employers are exploring menstrual leave. Others are looking at job design and progression systems that better support carers. The awareness is growing but the work is still slow.  

In our work with organisations, we see real change happen when inclusion is treated as a design principle, not an initiative. It’s about noticing where systems or traditions quietly exclude and doing something about it. 

That’s what Lewes Priory Cricket Club did. And as professional women cricketers continue to speak out about the barriers they’ve faced, it’s clear just how vital early action is. 

Because culture is shaped long before anyone enters the workplace. Schools and grassroots sports clubs have a huge role to play in shaping what young people believe is possible and what they expect as normal. 

We were proud to support that change then. And we’re just as proud, three years on, to keep championing the everyday actions that make a real difference.