The world’s only menopause festival will return to Perth in April.
The taboo-breaking event will ask important questions about how menopausal women are treated by employers as it tries to break down stigmas during the two-day festival.
Now in its second year the Menopause Festival is open to all genders and all ages and follows the world’s first Menopause Café which took place in Perth in 2017, causing similar cafés to pop up across the UK and in Toronto, Canada.
Rachel Weiss, partner at festival sponsors Rowan Consultancy, said, “The menopause affects each and every woman around the world and huge strides have been made since we started encouraging more debate with our very first Menopause Café back in 2017.
“However, more needs to be done. We are therefore delighted to be bringing the second Menopause Festival to Perth which takes these discussion to the next level.
“This year, as well as inviting the wider public, we have a dedicated Menopause at Work seminar which will air and clarify some of the issues surrounding menopause at work, and helping employers put the appropriate policies and procedures in place.”
>> Keep up to date with the latest news with The Courier newsletter
The Menopause Festival will take place at Perth Theatre on April 26 and 27 and will be officially opened by Christine McKelvie MSP, Scotland’s Minister for Older People and Equalities.
The first day of the event sees a Menopause at Work seminar explore the rights of women and their employers’ obligations with guest speakers including Kate Wyatt, employment law partner with firm Lindsays.
Ms Wyatt said: “Many of us are accustomed to reading or hearing about the menopause in women’s magazines, health supplements and lifestyle programmes but there’s very little talk of it in business circles.
“In years gone by, it’s not a subject which people have been comfortable speaking about but that is changing so that mindset shift has to filter through to the workplace too.
“I will be highlighting best practice, explaining what employers need to be doing and highlighting the huge strides which society has made in terms of women’s participation in the workplace.”
On Saturday speakers will include speaker Kelli Jaecks, author of Martinis & Menopause, and Dr Laura Jarvis from Tayside Menopause Clinic.
Stalls and workshops will be available on everything from creative writing and art to Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), mindfulness, nutrition and exercise.
