Marvin OnumonuCambridgeshire Fire and Rescue Service won two national awards for its work supporting colleagues going through menopause.
The service picked up Most Menopause Friendly Working Environment (Public Sector) at the Menopause and Menstruation Friendly Employer Awards on 24th September, recognising practical changes in the workplace.
It also received a Highly Commended certificate in the Menopause Friendly Accredited Employer of the Year category.
Hayley Douglas (pictured, left), assistant director for communication and engagement at Cambridgeshire Fire and Rescue Service and the service’s menopause champion, was recognised with the Carolyn Lazarus award for best individual contribution.
Douglas said: “I am so incredibly proud and humbled to have won the individual best contribution award surrounded on the day by so many other committed individuals, passionate about driving change in their own organisations to support those going through menopause.
“For the Service to win the most menopause friendly working environment is thanks to all those who have provided feedback, shared their stories to help us understand what we can do better to support those going through menopause and engage so openly and enthusiastically in the menopause awareness training we ran.
“Winning these awards validates all the work we have done over the past few years to understand the impact of menopause symptoms on the many different roles people do in our fire service and to ensure the right support is in place.”
Douglas added: “Our workplace is now somewhere that conversations about menopause and the impact of symptoms can be had without embarrassment or fear of being treated differently.
“We know we have more to do but to have our work to date recognised and celebrated in this way is fantastic.”
The service introduced mandatory awareness training for all staff, updated guidance, carried out risk assessments to support adjustments, and put up posters about common symptoms.
It also improved toilet and welfare provisions for firefighters and made period protection packs available in all cubicles and on fire engines.
Matthew Warren (pictured, right), chief fire officer at Cambridgeshire Fire and Rescue Service, praised Douglas and colleagues for their efforts.
Warren said: “The work that Hayley has done over the past few years to improve our support for those going through menopause and make the subject of menopause in our workplace something that everyone feels more comfortable to speak openly about is amazing.
“Feedback from colleagues has been extremely positive about the impact the work is having and the reassurance it is offering.
“We have made menopause awareness training mandatory and colleagues have engaged positively, many talking about their own experiences of menopause, not just as individuals going through it but as partners of women going through menopause too.”
Warren added: “Hayley’s work hasn’t just been for the benefit of our fire service, she has also inspired and supported other fire and rescue services to improve their menopause support.
“This has included instigating and supporting a national conference on menopause for fire and rescue service colleagues across the UK run by the National Fire Chief’s Council, which ran for a third year last month with over 100 delegates.
“For Hayley, and Cambridgeshire Fire and Rescue Service to be recognised on a national stage for work in this area is incredible and we are so proud.”
