Following efforts by an employee who wanted to raise awareness of the menopause, Avanti West Coast has held a drop-in session at Preston station to support colleagues who may be similarly affected.

The session was Avanti West Coast’s latest initiative to support colleagues suffering with the menopause and to get people talking about the subject. Customer Service Assistant, Hellen Briscoe, came up with the idea of a drop-in session in her efforts to raise awareness of menopause in the workplace and reduce taboos associated with it.

The session followed the introduction by Avanti West Coast of menopause guidance – a resource for employees that provides an understanding of the subject with hints, tips, and where support can be found.

As well as being aimed at women who are experiencing symptoms, the session was open to anyone who wanted to learn more about their relative or friend who may be going through the menopause.

Hellen was diagnosed with perimenopause at the age of 37, and now aged 39 she has found that being open about her experience has helped her deal with the symptoms and emotions she has suffered.

Avanti West Coast has created a ‘Menopause for thought’ group for people to discuss how the company can better support employees around menopause. After joining the group, Hellen found that colleagues affected by menopause had struggled in silence. These conversations encouraged her to organise a drop-in session to encourage others to talk and share their experiences with each other.

Hellen also contacted well-known media personalities, including Andrea McLean, to get them to share their stories to ask them for materials.

The drop-in session was part of Avanti West Coast’s commitment to creating an inclusive workforce and the first of its kind on the west coast. Employees from across the business attended the session where they talk and listened to their colleagues. Afterwards, some were given a menopause survival kit containing tea, chocolate, and token items to make them smile and show an understanding of what they’re going through.

Hellen has been inspired by the response to the session and is doing a menopause awareness course to deliver similar events at other locations along the route.

Hellen explained “Talking about menopause openly and trying to support other women has helped me. I think so many of us need that help and support without realising it. Women need to know they’re not alone.”

“I’ve gained a lot of helpful advice and a better understanding of the menopause by following celebrities, doctors and specialists on social media, so I felt heard and elated by their positive response. Andrea sent me a lovely note which made me realise just why I wanted to do this in the first place”, said Hellen.

Reflecting on the drop-in, Hellen said: “We need to talk about menopause. For some reason, it has been a taboo subject. This baffles me, as all women will go through it – some will sail through it, others will struggle but either way, we all need to be aware of what the menopause is and what to look out for.

“Those who came to the drop-in stayed a while, chatted to people they didn’t know, offered their advice, and listened to others. Some came on their days off, which proves some women need this. Not a lot is known by the younger generation, so the event was not only for us now, but for those in the future.

“I hope everyone who attended took away some comfort in knowing they can talk to me anytime, as well as giving them a much better understanding of the menopause and how we can all have our own journeys but together we can get through it more easily.

“I am eager to gain a community in the workplace, where we feel listened to, understood, and not embarrassed about menopause – not just in the workplace but our everyday life.”