Tea coffee and a slice of midlife

Leicester is the first university in the UK with a workplace menopause policy - and now we're launching the region’s first Menopause Café.

Taking place at the University during International Women’s Week on Friday 9 March, the café aims to give people a chance to share their stories, experiences and questions about menopause in a relaxed and informal setting.

Menopause Cafés were started by Rachel Weiss in Perth, Scotland. The objective is: "To increase awareness of the impact of the menopause on those experiencing it, their friends, colleagues and families, so that we can make conscious choices about this third stage of life.”

Andrea Davies from the School of Business and an organiser of the Leicester Menopause Café says: “At the University of Leicester we want everyone to be able to talk about menopause openly and without embarrassment. This is not an issue solely for women, men should be aware too so that they can support colleagues, students, friends and family. We want women with menopause symptoms to feel confident to discuss it and ask for support, if it is needed, so that they can continue to be successful in their roles and enjoy the right life-work balance.”

Following a Government report, the University of Leicester launched its Menopause Policy promoting awareness of the effects of menopause and encouraging open conversations and advice and support.

The Menopause Café takes place in the Graduate Lounge, Charles Wilson Building on Friday 9 March from 12.30 to 2pm. It’s free and open to University of Leicester staff and students, and staff of partner organisations only. Please register via Eventbrite.

Watch a video with Professor Jo Brewis discussing menopause in the workplace: