What World Menopause Day means to me...

"For both of us, World Menopause Day has a very personal meaning. We know first-hand how much menopause can affect how you feel, how you function and how you experience work. There have been times when symptoms have affected our concentration, energy, confidence and ability to function. That lived experience is a big part of what has driven our passion for making sure that other people don’t feel that they have to struggle alone.

Being Co-chairs of the Menopause Staff Network gives us an opportunity to turn those experiences into positive change. We want to help create a culture at Warwick where menopause is something that can be talked about openly, without embarrassment and where people feel supported rather than having to hide what they are experiencing. We are also both members of the Gender Engagement Group, where we continue to advocate for greater awareness, understanding and practical support for colleagues across the University.

One of the things we are particularly proud of is the community that has grown around the Menopause Staff Network. We have a Teams group where members can talk openly, share experiences and support one another. We also use it to share information about our own events, as well as online and local events and sources of support that we think may be useful. Sometimes simply knowing that other people understand what you are going through can make a huge difference.

For us, World Menopause Day is therefore not just about one day of awareness. It is about changing the conversation and continuing to push for a workplace culture where menopause is understood, recognised and supported. We believe that greater knowledge benefits everyone, those experiencing menopause, their colleagues, managers and the wider University community.

We hope that by encouraging open conversations and continuing to advocate for change, we can help make Warwick a place where nobody feels they have to choose between managing their menopause symptoms and being able to thrive at work.

If you would like to join the Menopause Staff Network or find out more about the support and community we offer, please get in touch with us j.dashwood@warwick.ac.uk and m.kettell@warwick.ac.uk."