Menopause cafes to take place in person throughout 2023

To keep conversations moving forward around the menopause, dates in January, April, July and October 2023 have been set for the next four menopause cafes. Anyone wishing to attend can book via the staff wellbeing events page.

The first café will take place on Wednesday 18 January 2023, from 10am to 11.30am in the Student Life Building, Room 2.06.

About the menopause cafes 

The menopause café was founded in Scotland by Rachel Weiss in 2017, and LJMU have been working with her to replicate virtual workplace cafes over the past 18 months. Rachel will now offer support to staff from LJMU who will take on the role of leading the first face-to-face sessions hosted across campus during 2023.

The cafes offer a place for our LJMU community to eat cake, drink tea and discuss menopause in an accessible, respectful and confidential space, open to all staff regardless of age or gender.

Amanda Mannion, HR Policy and Project Manager, said: “While these sessions are not designed to offer specific advice or to create a course of action for individuals, we have a fantastic working group that are making plans to develop and share expertise, from both within and outside of LJMU, with our staff. We will share further updates from our Menopause Matters group next year, but in the meantime, we hope to see many of you at our first in-person café in January.”

The HR team and Menopause Matters group are working with colleagues across the university to ensure that our staff from all departments and in all roles are able to attend cafes throughout the year.

You can contact the HR team via email with any suggestions related to menopause support and awareness, or if you want to join the group.

Further support from around LJMU

The university recently shared its new Staff Menopause Policy which advises line managers on the support that can be easily provided for their team members. It also signposts places to seek additional support, both for those experiencing symptoms and those wishing to support colleagues or perhaps someone at home or outside of work going through the menopause.

It is hoped that in the future, JMSU will deliver cafes specifically for our students and Student Advice and Wellbeing are looking to develop further support specifically for our student population.