Wellbeing of Women is being awarded a grant worth £107,464 by the government to provide menopause awareness and training to small and medium-sized businesses in Bedfordshire.

It follows the phenomenal success of our Menopause Workplace Pledge, which has been signed by more than 2,000 employers so far, helping to transform menopause support in workplaces.

The grant will fund a two-year project supporting small and medium-sized businesses across Milton Keynes, Bedford Borough and Central Bedfordshire so that more workplaces are offering support to those who may need it and women feel able to continue in their jobs.

Janet Lindsay, Wellbeing of Women CEO, said: “Sadly, many women leave their jobs, reduce their hours or pass up promotions, due to lack of menopause support in the workplace. This funding will allow us to continue our vital work in reducing health inequalities by ensuring women affected by the menopause can thrive in the workplace.

“Many employers are committed to providing good menopause support at work, but this can be difficult for smaller businesses with tighter budgets and fewer HR-focused roles.  “Through our training, we will work with small and medium-sized organisations to encourage a culture of open conversation about the menopause and give managers the tools to confidently support those experiencing menopausal symptoms and who may need support.”

The grant has been awarded from the Health and Wellbeing Fund, a joint initiative between the Department of Health and Social Care, NHS England and the UK Health Security Agency.

Health minister, Helen Whately, said: "We are supporting women experiencing reproductive health issues – such as pregnancy loss or menopause – to remain in or return to the workplace, through the Health and Wellbeing Fund.

“We have already put women’s health at the top of the agenda by publishing the first ever Women’s Health Strategy for England, but there’s always more that can be done.

“The contribution that the voluntary, community and social enterprise sector makes towards improving health and care is invaluable and improves the health of thousands of women."

Ruth May, Chief Nursing Officer for England, said: "The voluntary, community and social enterprise sector makes a significant contribution towards improving health and care and these projects will help deliver some of the important commitments set out in the Women’s Health Strategy for England.

“The sector brings a wealth of understanding of the impact on people’s lives, including those from disadvantaged groups, helping us provide positive support to even more women wanting to remain in and return to the workplace.”