‘The Menopause Menu’: healthy nutrition can make a big difference to women’s ability to manage symptoms and maintain overall well-being. Hormonal changes can affect bone density, energy levels and metabolism, so consuming nutrient-rich foods is particularly important.

A balanced diet rich in calcium, vitamin D, healthy fats and protein can help maintain bone health, support hormone regulation and reduce the risk of heart disease and weight gain. An additional focus on whole grains, fruits, and vegetables can ease common symptoms like hot flashes and mood swings, promoting better health during this transition.

We shared a variety of recipes tailored to support women affected and look forward to seeing the pictures coming through of the food people baked – hopefully without a soggy bottom in sight!

Sleep resources for menopause wellness: a good night’s sleep is important to all of us – but sleep can be a significant challenge during menopause. Hormone shifts can lead to sleep disturbances, which in turn can worsen symptoms like mood swings, fatigue and brain fog and reduce resilience to stress. We shared some tried-and-tested hints and tips for a good night’s sleep along with recommendations of supplements and teas.

Menopause kits: as part of our training as Menopause Champions, we learned that in some circumstances, women can experience ‘flooding’, which means that they have can several days’ worth of period within several minutes. This can lead to soiled clothes, embarrassment and in some cases shame. To combat this, menopause kits have been made available to all employees and visitors to Opencast offices.

These kits contain practical items for someone to clean and freshen themselves up and include:

• Tampons and pads

• A range of different sizes of underwear

• A long, black cardigan (which gives coverage if needed!)

• Natural calming products from Holland & Barrett

• Wipes and tissues

• Body spray

• Disposal/storage bag to put your things in.

Opencast is striving to be a menopause-positive employer, taking strides to implement essential health and support resources. We also recognise that there is more work to do – and that October’s Menopause Month is only the beginning.

We hope that our initiatives offer ideas and perspectives for other organisations to learn from – and are happy to share what’s worked for our people so far. We are learning too, of course, so as part of our ongoing journey, we’d love to hear about any activities that have been effective in your organisation.