To mark Endometriosis Awareness Month, Anushka and Jessica have written an article that really emphasises the life changing difficulties that people go through with endometriosis:

Endometriosis: The Long Road to Diagnosis, a Burdensome Process 

"March is endometriosis awareness month. At Manchester Community Central we believe in the inclusion and support for all, and menstrual health is a core element of this support. Alongside our menopause policy, we have a menstrual health policy that provides support for our colleagues who may need more flexibility or adjustments to help them excel and achieve even when managing difficult menstrual health symptoms.  

Endometriosis UK recently found that only 50% of 16-24 year olds know what endometriosis is. 47% of people surveyed in 2024 reported that they saw a GP 10 or more time before being diagnosed"

At Macc, we implore all organisations to have inclusive support for those struggling with their menstrual health and menopause. To provide a platform for this issue to be discussed, we are hosting an online event to share our learnings from implementing a menstrual health policy as a VCSE organisation ourselves. To sign up, please follow this link.  

Sally Bolton is the founder of SB Wellbeing, a health and fitness coaching programme that specialises in menopause wellness. She is the author of ‘The Menopause Lifestyle Project’ and is also a licensed workplace trainer, giving menopause training to organisations and workforces.

Jessica Draper interviews Sally about the importance of the discussion around menopause and why we need to the break the taboo. 

"Maternity inequalities remain stark, with maternal mortality rates significantly higher for Black and Asian women and those living in deprived areas. Perinatal mental illness also affects 1 in 4 births, contributing to poorer outcomes for families and children.

On Friday 14 March, Caribbean & African Health Network and The University of Manchester, are hosting a summit to bring together the key people and organisations across the city region to discuss the challenges of maternity inequalities, to lay out the evidence that we have, and, crucially, to start an ongoing conversation about how communities, health and care professionals, policymakers and academics can work together to eliminate the unfair and avoidable ways in which people do not receive the maternity care that they deserve."

Date and time: 14 March 2025, 10:00 - 16:00

Venue: Whitworth Art Gallery, Oxford Road, Manchester, M15 6ER

"Are you a social entrepreneur, changemaker, or community enterprise leader in Manchester? If so, we invite you to take part in the MSEA Mentor-a-thon, facilitated by Flourish Together and Manchester Social Economy Alliance (MSEA) Partners."

"A Mentor-a-thon is a dynamic and engaging group mentoring event designed to support individuals working in the social economy. Over the past decade, Flourish Together has successfully hosted these insightful sessions in partnership with organisations such as MSEA and Macc."

"The fourth face to face event in the Live Well series, this day will bring together people, and community and system leaders, from every locality, to focus on what it will take to grow great everyday support in every GM neighbourhood. This everyday support has the potential to offer effective, trusted, trauma-informed support at people’s doorsteps, grow communities’ health and wellbeing and reduce demand on public services.

This event is an opportunity for GM Live Well to take their neighbourhood and prevention work to the next level. Bringing people together to talk about how to deliver the Live Well centres, spaces and offers, co-designing the features and principles that need to be at their heart. The event will share what GM Live Well has learnt to date to inform the next stage of Live Well."

Date and time: 19 March 2025, 10:00 - 16:00

Venue: Manchester Monastery, Gorton

"Behaviour change is central to discussions about achieving net zero and encouraging the adoption of the sustainable practices needed to get there. However, there are limits to focusing on individual behaviour change with a ‘one-size-fits-all’ approach, and it is essential that decision-makers take social and cultural differences seriously.

Working with local communities, researchers at The University of Manchester have examined the limitations of taking a behavioural change approach to local environmental policy and explored alternative strategies for a just transition to a sustainable society.

Join the event to hear more about this research and discuss how environmental policy and action can take a place-based approach that works for all communities within an area and moves away from views that some people are ‘hard to reach’."

Speakers:

• Sherilyn MacGregor, Professor of Environmental Politics
• Liz Atherton, Climate Action Now programme manager, Stockport Council
• Chaired by Professor Cecilia Wong, Policy@Manchester Academic Co-Director and Professor of Spatial Planning

Date and time: 19 March 2025, 13:00 - 14:30

Venue: The University of Manchester (room confirmed on registration)

"Welcome to the Youth Innovation Conference 2025! Join us at University Academy 92 (UA92) for a day filled with inspiration, creativity, and collaboration. This in-person event is the perfect opportunity for involving young people in decision-making. They bring fresh perspectives, energy, and innovation, ensuring that policies, processes and services reflect the needs and aspirations of the next generation. Their participation leads to more effective, relevant solutions and strengthens decision-making by bridging generational gaps and fostering continuous engagement. Youth involvement helps organisations to stay adaptable, as they often challenge outdated systems and drive innovative reforms. Ultimately, it results in decisions that are more representative, equitable, and sustainable."

Date and Time: 2 April 2025, 10:00 - 16:00 

Venue: University Academy 92 (UA92), Brian Statham Way Stretford M16 0PU

To get in touch:

Telephone information service: 0333 321 3021

• Support line open Monday to Friday 10am - 4pm
• Calls are charged at the same rate as a local call, whether made from a landline or mobile phone

Email: info@mcrcommunitycentral.org

Website: www.manchestercommunitycentral.org

Or get in touch directly with the Policy and Influence Team:

Zara: Policy and Influence Manager, zara@macc.org.uk – Health and Wellbeing Leaders Group, VCSE Representation, VCSE Strategy, Climate Action, Voluntary Sector Assembly

Josie: Policy and Influence Development Worker, josie@macc.org.uk – Inclusive Economy, Manchester Social Economy Alliance (MSEA), Real Living Wage, Greater Manchester Social Value Network (GMSV)

Milly: Policy and Influence Development Worker, Emily.mckinnell@macc.org.uk -  Sanctuary Seekers Community Response, Alternative Venues, Community Explorers

Anushka: Policy and Influence Development Worker, anushka@macc.org.uk –Family Hubs, Community Safety Partnership and P&I Newsletter

Jessica: Policy and Influence Trainee, jessica@macc.org.uk – Just One Thing, Climate Action, data and administrative support, social media and communications