Mental health trust highly commended at national employer menopause awards for peer support
Norfolk and Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust has been recognised on a national level for its menopause support work.
The mental health trust received was highly commended in the Best Peer-to-Peer Support award category at the industry-recognised 2024 Menopause Friendly Employer Awards.
Staff wellbeing lead Jodie Millard and communications officer Gay Webster were presented with a certificate by TV and radio presenter Lisa Snowdon at the event held at the Royal Lancaster Hotel, in London on Wednesday September 11.
The ceremony was hosted by Henpicked: Menopause in the Workplace and included 400 guests in person and via live link from across the country.
The Menopause Friendly Employer Awards celebrate and recognise excellence among organisations and individuals going above and beyond to support menopause in the workplace.
They were judged by a menopause-friendly independent panel who were looking for both innovation and evidence of the impact and positive change achieved within the workplace.
The Best Peer-to-Peer Support Award was for the organisation that has created the best approach to enable peer-to-peer support, ensuring a safe and inclusive environment for conversations around menopause in the workplace.
Jodie said: “It was an amazing evening, and we were pleased we got as far as being finalists in two of the categories (also best staff engagement). To be awarded highly commended in the peer-to-peer support category was a real shock as we were up against huge organisations such as British Airways (also highly commended) and Asda.”
Gay added: “The supportive atmosphere of the evening really reflected the work these organisations are all doing to support women in the workplace. It’s good to see real change happening and to be part of that.”
Deborah Garlick, CEO and founder of Henpicked said: “We are absolutely thrilled for you and your team on picking up this well-deserved award. Your dedication and hard work in creating a menopause-friendly environment have truly paid off, and this recognition is a testament to everything you’ve achieved.
“The Menopause Friendly Employer Awards shine a spotlight on the incredible work being done by members of the Menopause Friendly Membership and Accreditation,” says “What our members are doing is changing hearts and minds about menopause for good, helping people live better lives today and for generations to come. I congratulate each and every one and thank them for all they’re doing.”
Deputy CEO and chief people officer Cath Byford said: “Huge congratulations to the menopause aware advocates at NSFT for all their amazing work to support women and raise awareness of what people going through the menopause and those who are supporting them, including family, friends and colleagues, have to deal with.
“More than 70% of our workforce are women or female at birth so it’s important we make everyone aware of how the menopause and perimenopause can affect their lives and those around them to make us a safer, kinder and better organisation.”
The other finalists in the Best Peer-to-Peer Support category were:
ASDA, AtkinsRéalis, BAE Systems, British Airways, Close Brothers, Leicestershire County Council (winners), Mondelez International, Newcastle Building Society, Phoenix Group. Sellafield Ltd and OVO.