Thames Valley Police (TVP) is the first police force in the UK to receive accreditation as a menopause friendly employer. The accreditation comes from Menopause Friendly, an independent organisation set up to change mindsets and attitudes towards menopause.
Last year, TVP set up a Menopause Action Group with the aims of raising awareness for those directly affected by menopause and for line mangers and colleagues to improve knowledge, understanding and empathy.
Some of the changes that TVP has made as a result of this group’s work, include: allowing supportive adjustments in the workplace; permitted changes to uniform to improve comfort; a buddy scheme of 50 individuals who have been trained to provide help and support.
TVP has also been shortlisted for two of the categories of the inaugural Menopause Friendly Employer awards, for most open workplace and for best engagement campaign.
Responding to this announcement, DI Natalie Beresford, who chairs the force’s Menopause Action Group said, “I am so proud of what we have achieved for our force. We want to makes sure that the menopause is no longer a taboo, but something that is talked about openly.”
