Friends Of Victoria Hall (FOVH) hopes to expand its wellbeing offer and gauge interest in something that organisers believe may be a gap in local community support.
The group, which runs Victoria Hall, the Grade II-listed building in Glossop for arts and community use, is exploring the possibility of launching a menopause support and information group.
They already provides weekly 'Chatty Tuesdays' sessions, which include a wellbeing group, a social group with games and crafts, digital inclusion support with PCrefurb, and a popular bingo session.
The idea for the new group was inspired by one volunteer's recent time away from the organisation while recovering from surgery.
Volunteer Sonja Quirk, founder of the Friends group and a former social worker who runs several of the Chatty Tuesday sessions, is recovering from a full hip replacement. Sonja lives with osteoarthritis and osteoporosis, conditions she believes may be linked to the menopause.
During her time away from volunteering, she says she "went down a rabbit hole" researching therapies, supplements, exercises and lifestyle changes.
She explained: "I get so many adverts on social media for things like collagen and other supplements, almost scare-mongering, about hormone treatments and what we should or shouldn't be doing to get us through this time of our life.
"I don't want to see myself as a victim of the menopause, but more that it's another chapter that comes with some health issues. I can be educated about it and make informed choices about what is best for me."
Sonja added: "I would like to be part of a group where I can access well-researched advice, peer support and be signposted to services both locally and nationally. I don't believe there is anything like this locally, so I thought I would do it myself."
Sonja is working alongside volunteer Karon Mee, a wellbeing and yoga specialist who leads seated yoga sessions as part of the Chatty Tuesdays wellbeing programme.
Together they will run two taster sessions in Glossop. Guest speakers, including local health and wellbeing experts, will give talks and answer questions to help determine whether there is demand for an ongoing group supported by a specialist programme of events.
Speakers at the sessions will include exercise experts, health professionals and dietary and nutrition specialists, alongside some more light-hearted contributors.
Sonja said: "I was contacted by local poet and author Johanne Lee, who takes inspiration from her own menopause experience. She will be joining the second session to introduce us to her characters Meryl Pause and her friends. Johanne's poems are poignant, amusing and very relatable."
The two taster sessions will take place in the function room above the new Market Hall at the Old Town Hall:
- Thursday 18th June - 7pm to 9pm
- Saturday 11th July - 10:30am to 12:30pm
FOVH hopes to establish a regular monthly or fortnightly group, with some sessions focusing on more serious topics such as symptoms, treatments and supplements, while others would offer a lighter and more creative approach, including arts and crafts, yoga and relaxation, quizzes, comedy and poetry.
The group would be open to anyone experiencing menopause, perimenopause, post-menopause, or surgical or induced menopause.
The taster sessions are free to attend, with refreshments provided by the League of Ladies.
For more information, contact Sonja Quirk at:
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