When RVN Sian Thomas began experiencing menopause symptoms, she found herself feeling isolated and unsure where to turn. Like many women, she discovered that although menopause affects a significant proportion of the workforce, it can still feel like a difficult subject to raise at work.
Rather than accepting that silence, Sian decided to change it.
Today, she is a trained Menopause Mentor and runs a menopause café, “Paws and Connect”, at Valley Veterinary Hospital in South Wales – an informal, supportive space where colleagues can talk openly, share experiences and access practical information without judgement.
It’s a simple idea, but one that is helping to normalise conversations around menopause while supporting wellbeing across the practice.
From personal experience to practical action
The 2020/21 Menopause in the Veterinary Profession Report, conducted by Veterinary Woman in partnership with SPVS, found that menopause impacted the career of 72% of female respondents in some way, including reducing hours and leaving practice partnerships. 90% of respondents said they would like to know more about the impacts of menopause, from both a personal and business perspective.
Sian’s own experiences of feeling alone and struggling to deal with symptoms prompted her to explore the idea of setting up the menopause café. Recognising that there was a need to enable conversations in the workplace to reduce stigma and improve understanding around this topic, Sian wanted to provide support for team members experiencing menopause and perimenopause. Her aim was to create a safe and informal space where people could talk openly about their experiences.
Sian approached Emma Pember, Practice Manager at Valley Vets, and proposed running an initial session to see how it went.
“Valley Vets have fully supported the idea from the start,” said Sian, “They’ve provided space and time for the sessions and supported the costs of care packs, drinks and snacks for the sessions.
“They also funded me to take a Menopause Mentor qualification which has allowed me to fully support team members both within the cafe and one to one,” Sian continues. “I’ve been given protected time to plan the cafes and support colleagues with mentoring and anything menopause related, such as helping VetPartners to create a menopause action plan.”
Turning an idea into reality
The menopause café acts as a relaxed drop-in session, giving colleagues the opportunity to share personal experiences, discuss symptoms and exchange practical coping strategies. They can also provide access to information, signposting to further support and guidance from trained staff or external specialists where available.
A dozen colleagues – vets, nurses, receptionists and support team members – regularly attend the sessions.
“The cafe is inclusive and open to anyone, whether they are directly affected by menopause or supporting someone who is. This is an important part of the cafe vibe.”
Tea, coffee, water, biscuits and healthy snacks are available to give the feeling of a café. Team members also receive a care pack containing support information and symptoms trackers, samples of supplements, a lavender sachet for relaxation, body wipes, bottled water, menopause tea, inspiration cards, notebook and pen.
Sian admits she had some initial concerns about whether colleagues would attend.
“I worried nobody would come or that people may feel embarrassed in a practice where everyone knows each other, but the initial cafe launch was actually overbooked. We had to run two sessions so that everyone could attend. I anticipated that colleagues might be less engaged after the excitement of the first session, but subsequent sessions are still being well attended – and they also work for the whole team, not just people directly affected.
“By creating an open and supportive environment, we’ve been able to support colleagues and ensure they feel valued throughout every stage of their lives and careers. The cafe is inclusive and open to anyone, whether they are directly affected by menopause or supporting someone who is. This is an important part of the cafe vibe.
“The ethos of the menopause café is very much in the spirit of VetPartners as it is all about supporting each other.”
More than coffee and conversation
“There is a growing awareness across the veterinary profession of the impact menopause can have on wellbeing, confidence and day-to-day working life,” said Sian. “For some colleagues, symptoms can affect concentration, energy levels and overall job satisfaction, making workplace support an important part of retention and wellbeing.”
Since the menopause café opened, Sian has noticed changes in her colleagues – and in herself. “Ive seen colleagues who were hesitant coming into the café sessions become the biggest contributors to the discussions – opening up and feeling heard and safe,” she observed. “For me personally, it’s helped to share my own experiences and has built my confidence, not only to help others, but to build that trust and understanding within the team.”
The initiative is also gaining traction beyond Valley Vets in the wider Vet Partners network.
“I’ve spoken to lots of the team and have contributed to the Vet Partners menopause action plan,” said Sian. “I have also met with colleagues from other practices to help them start up their own versions of the cafe. Providing one-to-one mentoring has been beneficial and I’ve been able to help support or guide colleagues in making important decisions regarding their positions and personal journeys.”
Sian’s advice to anyone thinking about starting something similar is simple – “Just do it! It will work if you keep it true to you. The concept is simple and you don’t need a big budget – just a room, some time, some snacks and the willingness to talk and share.
“Creating ‘Paws and Connect’ has been very fulfilling. It’s helped build understanding within the team and colleagues are more open, not only about perimenopause and menopause, but about how their menstrual cycle affects them – and most importantly, what can help.”
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