The group was set up in February 2022 at Dunrossness Hall with a little funding for hall hire, refreshments and a few resources. We met every Thursday which was important as a month is a long time between , especially if you miss one. By March 2023 it was evident that there was a need for this group and we set up a committee and constitution to go independent from the hall, this was the South End Menopause Group. We took the group on the move around the south end for a year. we had a member coming along from Mossbank who asked why we couldn't have something in the north and the Brae group was formed with a new volunteer.

We then too one of the Thursdays to meet in Lerwick to address the further need. By June 2024 we changed our name to Menopause Support Shetland to reflect our commitment to supporting women from anywhere in Shetland and we gained charitable status.

We are continuing to develop and grow and have held several pop up Menopause Cafes across Shetland and will continue to pop up, so watch this space!

Click here for more information - https://www.menopausesupportshetland.com/useful-documents and see below to put a face to the name!

Committee Members

  • Wendy Hand: Founder, Secretary and Coordinator

    Hi I'm Wendy Hand I am 58 years old and post-menopausal. I set up this group in February 2022 to give me like minded women to support each other through the menopausal journey, with all the symptoms, hurdles and many emotions. I am the secretary and coordinator for the group and attend all areas at sometime throughout the month. I still get so much out of the support network and always feel better for having a chat and most times a laugh.

  • Jennie Gunn: Chair

    In my 40s, I first visited my GP with peri-menopausal symptoms and struggled for several years with failed medications. I tried to manage on my own, but by 2024, I reached a point where I needed to act. That’s when I discovered the Menopause Shetland group. Surrounded by women who understood and listened, I found the courage to seek medical help and realized it was not all in my head. Now, I have the honour of being the chairperson of the Menopause Shetland group. As a menopausal woman in charge of her own hormones, I still benefit from the support of like-minded, open, and friendly women at our group.

  • Una Simpson: Treasurer

    Hi, I’m Una Simpson, I’m 58 years old and post menopausal. I am the treasurer for the group.

    Having had a several private conversations online with other women in similar situations about setting up a group, I was delighted when Wendy posted a similar suggestion on social media. The group has gone from strength to strength through since its inception in February 2022. It offers a safe and confidential group where you can find help and support in all aspects of menopause. With access to free treatments which are helpful for symptoms as well as literature and visits from professionals to answer any questions you may have, it helps to know that you are not on this journey alone.

    Peer support can be invaluable and has really helped me to realise that I don’t have to deal with things on my own… so why not give it a try. Nothing better than a cuppa and a chat and hopefully some lighthearted moments along the way.

  • Naomi Harrison - Committee Member

    Hi, I'm Naomi. I'm a 57 year old lady who has unfortunately not managed to have family but have gone through many different gynaecological issues in my lifetime. Menopause has definitely been the hardest. I feel strongly that we need to talk about Menopause so women are prepared and not overwhelmed by this stage in our lives. Our generation has seen a lot of changes especially in how information is shared and more people can have their say. Let's use it to empower women to take charge of this natural stage of our lives and help others to help us navigate through it. Many movements start small with ordinary people doing small things in their own community. For us that is Menopause Support Shetland.

  • Anja Richardson - Committee Member

    Hello, I am Anja and postmenopausal. I’m one of the Trustees of the Menopause Support Shetland group and I have been assisting in facilitating the weekly meetings in Brae. I come from a generation where female reproductive health was not really spoken about - you ‘just got on with it’. But thanks to public campaigns from the likes of Davina McCall, we are now thankfully openly speaking about the peaks and troughs of this inevitable stage in women’s lives and paving the way for future generations to hopefully be more informed. I’m so grateful to have found this group, where we can chat in confidence and areable to talk things through, with women who know what is going on. Through our shared and sometimes very different experiences, we can create a wonderfulnetwork of knowledge. As well as having this fantastic local support network, I have found new friendships, am trying new things and don’t feel I have to go through this on my own anymore. I finally found the confidence in seeking medical and holistic support for the symptoms I had struggled with since my early 40’s and feel so much better for it.