What’s a menopause awareness session for women in the workplace like with me?
I worked with a secondary school in the North East of England to provide a session that was informative and useful for colleagues who were feeling curious and overwhelmed by their menopause related symptoms.
About the Client
My client was secondary school with a predominantly female workforce, many of whom fall within the menopausal age bracket. HR had been approached by staff members asking for support around menopause symptoms and recognised they had nothing in place to offer them.
The school wanted to act quickly and create a safe space for women to talk openly about what they were experiencing.
The Situation for the School Before the Session
Staff were experiencing perimenopause and menopause symptoms and HR recognised that staff needed expert guidance from someone who could provide the right support and create the kind of environment where women would feel safe to speak openly.
What was at stake?
Without action, the school risked failing in its duty of care to a significant portion of its workforce. Women experiencing debilitating symptoms without support are more likely to take sick leave, reduce their hours, or leave their roles altogether often without ever naming menopause as the reason.
Beyond the operational impact, there was a cultural cost. If staff didn’t feel looked after, trust in leadership would erode. The school needed to show it was willing to address an issue that, for too long, had been treated as something women should manage privately and in silence.
What Helped the School Decide to Work with Tracey and the Menopause Training Company?
The school didn’t want a tick-box exercise. They wanted something meaningful and a session that would give women the knowledge they needed to understand what was happening to their bodies, the reassurance that they weren’t alone and what they could do to feel less overwhelmed by their symptoms.
What made Tracey’s approach stand out was its focus on creating a safe, women-only space where staff could ask questions, share experiences, and leave feeling informed rather than overwhelmed. It wasn’t just about delivering information it was about building understanding and breaking down isolation.
What Solutions did Tracey provide?
Tracey delivered a two-hour women-only session designed to help staff understand perimenopause and menopause without feeling overwhelmed.
The session was attended by five members of staff: a mix of teaching and non-teaching roles and covered the hormone imbalance causing perimenopause, the range of potential symptoms, and practical strategies for managing them through diet, exercise, and lifestyle changes.
The format was deliberately interactive. Rather than sitting through slides, attendees were encouraged to ask questions, share what they were experiencing, and learn from each other’s stories. The session was designed to feel supportive, not clinical. More of a conversation, not a lecture.
After the session, attendees received additional resources and signposting to organisations that could help them support themselves through this time. Many of the organisations provided free resources, ensuring ongoing support was accessible to everyone.
By the end of the two hours, the group had built a shared understanding of what menopause is, why symptoms happen, and what they could do to take back control.
What Impact Did The Session Have?
The session had an immediate effect. Staff left feeling less isolated, better informed, and more confident in their ability to manage their symptoms. Many hadn’t realised how much their diet, exercise, and lifestyle choices could influence how they felt and several committed to making changes as a result.
Key outcomes:
- Knowledge: Attendees understood the biology behind their symptoms and realised menopause is normal and not something to fear or hide.
- Connection: Women who had felt alone discovered their colleagues were going through the same thing and that sharing made it easier.
- Confidence: Staff left with practical strategies they could use immediately to manage symptoms and improve their wellbeing.
- Culture shift: The session normalised talking about menopause at work.
What Did The Attendees Say About The Session?
“I learned that menopause is normal. It’s not just me.”
“The opportunity to share what I’m experiencing was so useful.”
“Understanding the biology of peri-menopause was really helpful.”
“I didn’t know my diet could impact my symptoms.”
“You’ll learn loads and have a laugh.”
“Thank you so much for the extra resources. The session was very useful and encouraged me to share pointers with other staff in school.”
My biggest takeaway was:
Several attendees said they wished they’d attended a session like this before they were peri-menopausal so they’d have been better prepared.
The overwhelming feedback was clear: this kind of session should be happening more often, and for more women.
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