Plymouth student launches menopause café to support women in the city

Released: 12.06.26

A Plymouth Marjon University student has launched a new Menopause Café aimed at supporting women across Plymouth who are experiencing perimenopause and menopause.

Helen Elwood, 49 from Plymouth, founded the Plymouth Menopause Network after drawing on her own experiences and her academic research while studying psychology at Plymouth Marjon University.

The initiative grew out of a collective of women who came together to create an inclusive and supportive community for women across Plymouth.

It was informed by Helen’s undergraduate and postgraduate studies, which explored women’s experiences of menopause alongside the challenges of work, study and everyday life. Through her research, Helen identified a lack of accessible, stigma‑free spaces for women to talk openly and receive practical support.

The first Menopause Café took place in May at Foulston Park in Devonport, with 20 women coming together at the Flourish Café to share experiences and get practical advice from expert speakers.

Helen said: “We are normal, everyday women from very different lives and backgrounds, but we share a common purpose to make the lives of those experiencing menopause better.

“Our aim is to create a Plymouth where every woman is informed and supported through menopause, and where employers, men and young people also understand how they can help.

“We want menopause to be talked about openly, without stigma or judgement, so that women can access the support they need.”

She added: “We believe menopause can be an empowering and transformative stage of life with the right support. These conversations have a real power to break down barriers and connect women from all walks of life, which benefits society as a whole.”

Helen is a graduate of BSc Psychology and MRes Psychology and is currently continuing research into her PHD - an exploration into the experience of perimenopause and its interrelated narratives of transition, social identity, and a women’s sense of self.

Go to the next Menopause Cafe

The next event takes place on 18 June - register here. 

To find out more about the Plymouth Menopause Network and access support, visit the Plymouth Menopause Network website.

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