The first all-Wales Menopause Summit

Kick-starting the conversation about menopause in Wales

Share Impact Ltd is organizing the first all-Wales Menopause Summit in Cardiff on Tuesday 25^th June 2019, supported by the Women’s Equality Network Wales (WEN) and the Fair Treatment for the Women of Wales (FTWW). The event brings together women from across Wales, employers, healthcare professionals and policy makers to share experiences, learn about the menopause and discuss practical solutions individuals, employers and the health service can take to support women during this time in their life.

 The menopause remains an unspoken health care challenge in workplaces and in the social space in Wales. There is a lack of scientific research, lack of knowledge amongst health care professionals and a lack of knowledge for women themselves who are going through the menopause. This summit aims to change that, to bring the menopause out into the open and discuss the challenges women face with a focus on practical action.

 Catherine Fookes, Director of WEN Wales said:

‘We are delighted to be supporting the first all-Wales menopause summit and get the conversation out in the open about the menopause and the health inequalities women face. For too long it has been brushed under the carpet.  Our 2016 research into the menopause found that there was inconsistency in information, advice and support for women experiencing the menopause and this is still the case. And in our recent CEDAW report to the UN, we stated that almost 27% of women feel that in their workplaces menopause is treated negatively and 56% feel menopause is treated as a joke. Women deserve better’

 Special guests Diane Danzebrink, Dr Charlotte Fleming, Julie Dennis and Jane Hutt AM, Deputy Minister and Chief Whip will be speaking at the event. Deputy Minister and Chief Whip, Jane Hutt said: “This is a great opportunity to raise awareness of menopause and menopausal issues, which for too long have been a taboo subject. The menopause is a natural and significant life event for women and it is important we can talk about it openly and receive the best possible advice and support when we need it.”

Deborah Shaffer, Founder of Fair Treatment for the Women of Wales said: ‘FTWW is delighted to be co-hosting this exciting event around one of the most pressing public health issues of our time – the menopause. With around 51% of Wales’s population expected to be going through menopause at one time or another, it’s absolutely vital that women’s voices are heard on the topic, to ensure that we can continue to live long, healthy, productive, and prosperous lives. The All-Wales Menopause Summit is the first of many steps to giving this topic the platform it deserves, with the lived experience front and centre’.

 In order to create change we have to have all voices in the room which is why this event doesn’t just involve professionals but has invited women form all walks of life to also join the conversation. We believe this is co-production in action and is an important start to having the conversations that matter and changing the way women are supported through the menopause.