A CAMPAIGN encouraging dads to feel more confident speaking to their daughters about periods has been launched by an East Lothian social enterprise – with the help of a movie star.

#Pads4Dads has been launched by Hey Girls after its survey of 1,500 men found that one in three dads felt unprepared to have conversations about periods with their children.

Meanwhile, a third said that they had never purchased sanitary products and half said they had never spoken to their daughters about periods.

Now, Stenton-based Hey Girls has teamed up with actor, activist and father-of-one Michael Sheen to launch the campaign.

#Pads4Dads is a movement to encourage men to talk to their daughters more about periods, but also an online guide, written by dads for dads, with all they need to know about the subject.

Celia Hodson, who co-founded Hey Girls alongside her daughters Kate and Becky, was delighted to launch the campaign.

She said: “Education is so important to break down the myths and taboo that still surround periods.

“Everyone in my family is totally used to chatting about periods now but I do understand talking to teenagers about puberty can be awkward.

“However, for dads of daughters with no female relatives around, it can be more than that – it’s often quite scary.

“We wanted to create something empowering to give dads a helping hand.

“It was a pleasure to work with Michael in doing so.”

Mr Sheen, who starred in Frost/Nixon and The Damned United, was happy to back the campaign.

He said: “It’s awkward for dads to have this chat because, chances are, they didn’t learn about periods in school.

“Believe me, we want to be supportive but there’s almost no information out there aimed at dads.

“Let’s not leave dads out of the conversation!”

Hey Girls has enjoyed a meteoric rise since it was unveiled last year.

The company was launched selling menstrual products online using a ‘Buy One Give One’ model: for every box purchased, a box is given away to a girl or woman in need in the UK.

In its first 12 months, the organisation was recognised as one of Scotland’s start-up innovators.

Aileen Campbell MSP, cabinet secretary for communities and local government, congratulated Hey Girls for taking action.

She said: “We are leading the way in Scotland to provide access to free sanitary products and talk more openly about menstruation.

“I am proud to see Hey Girls taking action to reduce the stigma around periods as a female-only conversation.

“It is important to engage dads and other male role models by encouraging them to talk about this important subject.”