A leading South London charity has become the first animal welfare organisation in the UK to achieve Menopause Friendly Accreditation after introducing a range of measures to support employees experiencing menopause and perimenopause.
Battersea has been officially accredited as a Menopause Friendly Employer, joining an elite group of menopause friendly accredited employers, including FTSE100 companies, high street retailers, global banking groups and football clubs.
The accreditation reflects several years of work by Battersea to embed menopause support into everyday life at the charity.
To achieve the Menopause Friendly Accreditation, Battersea was assessed by an independent panel and had to demonstrate evidence of its effectiveness in five key areas: culture, policies and practices, training, engagement and working environment.
The steps introduced by Battersea to embed a menopause-inclusive culture included establishing a Menopause Support Network for staff and volunteers and 10 trained Menopause Champions, launching a dedicated menopause policy, delivering training to directors and senior management, holding regular drop-in sessions and positive conversations with staff experiencing menopause and perimenopause, and listening to employees through surveys, network meetings, feedback and lived experience to develop the charity’s approach to menopause support.
Battersea also introduced wider wellbeing activity such as its blue cardigan scheme, where long navy cardigans are available to borrow in accessible / gender-neutral toilets across all three of the charities’ sites. These are available for anyone requiring an emergency change of clothing because they are experiencing unexpected symptoms related to menopause/menstruation challenges, such as leaks, hot flushes, or discomfort.
Lisa Nugent, Co-Chair of Battersea’s Menopause Support Network, said:
“This accreditation is recognition of the efforts of so many people over the last three years to embed a menopause-friendly culture at Battersea and ensure that all staff can access support and advice if needed.
“It really has been a collaborative effort and to say that Battersea is the first animal welfare charity to have achieved accreditation is something that we are proud of.”
The Menopause Friendly Accreditation was established in 2021 by Henpicked: Menopause In The Workplace to certify high standards and proven practices that embrace menopause in the workplace. It’s industry-recognised and the only accreditation that sets clear standards that must be met.
Deborah Garlick, Founder and CEO of Henpicked: Menopause in the Workplace, said:
“Congratulations to everyone at Battersea Dogs & Cats Home on achieving Menopause Friendly Accreditation. The Independent Panel was hugely impressed by how genuinely embedded this work is across the organisation – from visible senior leadership and an active Menopause Support + Allies Network to practical changes shaped directly by colleagues, including the Blue Cardigan Scheme and menopause considerations in their uniform review.
With 96% of survey respondents agreeing that menopause is now spoken about more openly at Battersea, this is a brilliant example of listening to your people and turning that into meaningful, lasting change.”
