FogFest: Menopause festival to come to Salisbury and debunk myths

FogFest2023 is due to take place on June 10 at the Salisbury Methodist Church. 

The event will bring together a team of women’s health specialists to share their knowledge and expertise to help women understand what’s going on, why it’s happening and what they can do to manage symptoms.

Romsey MP Caroline Nokes, who is also the Chair of the Women and Equalities Committee, will also be attending the day to talk about the Menopause & the Workplace Inquiry. 

The event has been organised by Jo Ibbott, an executive menopause coach from Romsey. 

READ MORE: Fog Fest: Winchester hosts its first Menopause festival with Romsey MP

Through Courage Coaching, she helps businesses and organisations become ‘menopause aware’ through coaching and training. 

She also runs a successful Facebook group called ‘What the Fog?’ offering women support and access to good information.

Jo, 52, said: "I’m passionate about this, helping everyone join the dots as the impact is often hidden (and taboo) and can be huge for women and workplaces." 

Jo held the first FogFest in Winchester last November - and she was delighted to see scores of people turn up in support. 

Buoyed by the success of the first festival, she has decided to expand and bring her idea to Salisbury. 

She said: "It is going to be a great opportunity to learn a lot about menopause and about what women can do to navigate that time in their lives. We have lots of experienced professionals, speakers, GPs, nutritionists and even physical trainers, we are trying to cover every aspect of women's health.  

"It's about arming women with the knowledge and information so they can make informed choices." 

Jo said she was pleased to see more attention being given to menopause, particularly as its symptoms affect at least 80 per cent of women. 

SEE ALSO: Menopause drug Utrogestan restricted by ministers

She said: "Figures show that one in 10 women leave work due to the symptoms. There are women making life decisions based on the fact that they are not feeling themselves.

"During menopause, confidence can ebb away, but it's about realising that this happens and knowing that there are things they can be doing and that there are things that can make a difference." 

Last year, the government appointed its first Menopause Employment Champion, Helen Tomlinson, to call on more employers to develop menopause policies. 

Her role is to drive awareness of issues surrounding menopause and work while promoting the benefits for businesses and the economy when women are supported to stay in work and progress.

Although not all women experience effects which prevent them from working, research suggests those with serious menopausal symptoms take an average of 32 weeks of leave from work, whilst one in four women report they have considered leaving their job.

The average age for a woman to reach the menopause is 51, and this matters especially as women over 50 represent the fastest-growing segment of the workforce, with a third of the working-age population now over 50.

Indeed, 1 in 100 women experience menopause impact before the age of 40 with peri-menopause symptoms often during their 40s and some experiencing it mid-30s.

Tickets for FogFest cost £55 with refreshments included. Go to buytickets.at/couragecoaching.

For more go to courage-coaching.co.uk/fogfest2023