NewsRefresh supports alsico with successful Menopause Matters event!

Posted by Lucy Moore
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When our client alsico approached us earlier this year and told us they wanted to help improve the level of menopause support offered to professionals throughout the care sector, we couldn’t wait to get involved and start sharing ideas.

We knew that menopause features more prominently in the press and across social media each October due to its recognition as World Menopause Month, with World Menopause Day held specifically on 18th October. Therefore, we plotted our biggest activities, including a face-to-face event with carers, industry experts and a menopause campaigner to take place this month and spark conversations across the care sector.

Why menopause?

Alsico is known for its innovative workwear throughout the UK, supporting individuals across industries to feel fully protected and comfortable to carry out their roles. With years of experience and product development in the healthcare and care sectors, the alsico team knew that more needed to be done to ensure that menopause is consistently considered when making decisions such as new uniform selection.

However, we knew that uniforms are only one element that can make a big difference to somebody’s experience of menopause at work, therefore, the conversation needed to look at the topic overall to understand how menopause could be made a standard factor in decision making – to improve support now and in the long term.

What did we do?

We agreed with the alsico team that the best way to capture a true picture of experiences in the sector today, would be to bring carers from providers across the country together in one room and speak to them directly.

We drew on an existing partnership that alsico had with Care England, the leading representative body for providers in England. The Care England team provided direct access to care providers of varying sizes, who nominated carers to join us on the day.

We co-ordinated all of the planning for the day with alsico, Care England and the NEC in Birmingham where we would host the event alongside the Care Show. We also reached out to the media in advance of the event, to let them know what was taking place and confirm which date insights would be available.

What was the result?

The event was the first of its kind for both alsico and Care England and it was a fantastic success. We were aiming to have 20 carers in the room on the day and ended up with 23, with managers from their care homes joining us for relevant sessions too.

The room was full of attendees, with multiple chairs being brought in throughout the morning sessions to accommodate everyone! The experts on the panel session that kicked off the day did a fantastic job at warming up the room and after the first few questions were asked at the end, we had a huge number of contributions from the carers all day long.

The event took place at the NEC alongside the Care Show, where our menopause influencer, Diane Danzebrink, was delivering a keynote on menopause support in the workplace. We were therefore able to wrap up our Menopause Matters event by heading into the Care Show and joining Diane’s audience. It was fantastic to see such a great turn out in the theatre, with nearly 100 attendees in total!

Following the event last week, we have already had brilliant feedback from alsico, Care England, Diane and multiple care home groups whose team members joined us on the day. We have also secured coverage in a range of industry and regional titles with features secured to cover the day’s insights in greater detail.

What’s next?

Naiomi Beaumont Swindlehurst, alsico’s raw materials and R&D expert who sat on the panel and led a session on the day said: “Reactions throughout the event demonstrated how sorely-needed it was – we even had to find space for extra attendees to take part in the conversation. The overwhelming message from all of the sessions is how much there is to do on education and resource access, both for those who are/will experience the menopause, and those supporting them.”

If you’d like to read more about the Menopause Matters event, please visit: https://www.alsico.com/uk/environments/healthcare/menopause-matters

We are now working with the alsico team on exciting plans to develop the campaign further in 2025 and broaden the access to sorely-needed, free menopause training resources for the care sector and beyond – watch this space!

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