There are many symptoms you can experience while in perimenopause and menopause. From anxiety and brain fog, to migraines, dizziness, tinnitus, aches and pains and difficulty sleeping. The list goes on.

We started our menopause support group to offer support to anyone going through this stage of life (or anyone interested in understanding more about it), to help you feel less alone at work. You can find details on how to sign up further down the page.

You will also find helpful resources on this page to help you whether you're experiencing menopause yourself, or are simply interested in finding out more about it and the support we offer at the University.

The University values, promotes and celebrates inclusion, challenging discrimination and putting equality, diversity and belonging at the heart of everything we do. We promote staff wellbeing at work by providing information, advice and support to create a community and workplace that is thriving, sustainable and safe. Improving our menopause support is a big part of putting inclusivity and wellbeing centre stage.

Menopause is something most women will experience. Transgender women can also experience symptoms of menopause and we are here to support them too. Menopause is not always an easy transition, and for those who suffer from symptoms, the right support at work can make a big difference.

About the group

We have a dedicated Teams group for sharing information and supporting each other. We also host optional in-person and virtual catch ups if you'd like to connect with other colleagues face-to-face.

We are not medical experts and as such we encourage members to describe, not prescribe. We are here to point members to where help and support is available. We are all individuals, whether that’s our menopause experience, personal preferences, or medical history. So, your GP is your first port of call to discuss treatments.

Confidentiality is paramount and any discussions, both on the Team or in our meetups, stay within the group.

"I have felt supported and listened to. The network provides a safe place (non judgemental) with open dialogue, providing value in learning from others and being able to give back, too." Group member

Our group objectives

We have five core objectives for our group:

1. To create a community where people can share experiences, support each other and learn.
2. To listen and understand the diverse experiences of perimenopause/menopause.
3. To enable those experiencing menopause symptoms to feel confident to discuss it and ask for support.
4. To change mindsets and attitudes towards menopause.
5. To develop understanding and support of menopause at work issues among people managers and colleagues.

Our meet ups are a great way to meet colleagues from across the University. They are a safe space where we discuss topics around menopause. You can be as involved in those conversations as you want to be ─ it's also fine if you prefer just to listen to what others have to say.

If you'd like to join, sign up to our Teams group to stay up-to-date with the latest dates.

"The network is fantastic, it has really helped me to be able to communicate more effectively about menopause and to access information to keep myself informed. It makes a huge difference in the workplace to have a network to encourage and facilitate conversations around menopause - it hugely lifts the sense of 'taboo' around the topic in a work context. It's a very supportive and safe space to talk about the impacts of menopause in the workplace." Group member