Don’t miss this insightful World Menopause Day event coming soon to Delapré Abbey for second year in a row
Do not miss your opportunity to attend this insightful World Menopause Day event coming soon to Delapré Abbey for the second year in a row.
Helen Aluko is the founder of a much-loved menopause meet up, which recently celebrated its third anniversary at the iconic landmark.
She began experiencing perimenopausal symptoms in her late forties, years before she established the initiative that now brings a community of women together to share, listen and learn.
Helen did not understand what she was going through at the age of 47, which she feared could be dementia, until she joined a support group down the line to enhance her knowledge.
“I realised what I was experiencing and felt quite passionate,” Helen previously told the Chronicle & Echo. “I looked to see if there was anywhere local I could go for support and talk to like-minded people, but there wasn’t at the time.
“Delapré Abbey is on my doorstep and my happy place, so I approached their Wellbeing Hub and they embraced my idea with open arms.”
The meet up is now a safe, secure and confidential space for women to share what is going on in their lives and realise they are not alone.
Helen said there is often a crossover with mental health issues and neurodiversity, which tend to present during perimenopause and menopause as women are good at masking their symptoms throughout their lives.
The sessions run every third Wednesday of the month from 6pm until 7.30pm and everything is free of charge to attendees, including refreshments.
Another aspect of Helen’s vital work in the menopause space is her annual event to mark World Menopause Day, taking place from 9.30am until 4pm on October 17 at Delapré Abbey.
“We’ve got a really good mix of professional speakers who are medically and holistically qualified,” said Helen.
This year’s speakers include a women’s health specialist, a nutritionist, a pelvic floor specialist, a consultant gynaecologist, a breathwork specialist, a holistic menstrual health professional, a hair technician and an associate professor.
The topics they will cover include how hormones are impacted by menopause, how nutrition can help perimenopause symptoms, strengthening the pelvic floor, how to heal perimenopause naturally, how the womb works, hormonal hair loss, and achieving balance in midlife.
“A massive thank you to all those incredible speakers for giving their time for free, even the medical professionals,” said Helen. “There will also be taster sessions in the Coach House for yoga, Reiki, sound bath and meditation, as well as wellbeing stalls for acupuncture, essential oils, mini manicures, a sleep consultant and a pelvic floor chair.
“We are honoured to have all of these people in one place and everyone is welcome, it’s not a women-only event. The effects of perimenopause and menopause aren’t taboo anymore and I want to carry on raising awareness.
“It’s important to make everyone aware, as 50 percent of the population are women and will go through surgical or natural menopause. They need to know what’s available to them, how to access it and that they’re not alone.”
Tickets are currently priced at £5 for the entire day, which will rise to £8 in September. Attendees are welcome to pick and choose what they would like to attend.
Ticket sales are capped at 100 and with a third having already been sold, Helen urges anyone interested to act fast so they do not miss out.
Helen wanted to issue a big thank you to Delapré Abbey and its Wellbeing Hub for their continued support with this event and the menopause meet up.
The event has not received any funding apart from a small grant from Far Cotton and Delapré Community Council, who Helen would also like to thank.