Sporting Equals is set to launch a programme aimed at empowering ethnically diverse women experiencing symptoms of menopause and perimenopause, thanks to funding raised by players of People’s Postcode Lottery.
One of the aims will be to help them to feel more confident and aware of how physical activity can play a role in their physical and mental wellbeing.
There is a critical need for a project focusing on exercise and menopause, particularly for ethnically diverse women, as current research often overlooks their unique experiences. Menopause significantly impacts physical and mental health, with symptoms such as hot flashes, mood swings, and increased risk of chronic conditions like cardiovascular disease and osteoporosis. Exercise offers a powerful, non-pharmacological way to manage these symptoms and promote long-term well-being. However, barriers such as cultural norms, limited access to resources, and health disparities disproportionately affect women from diverse backgrounds, making it essential to tailor interventions. This project aims to bridge that gap by gathering data on how diverse women navigate menopause and physical activity, creating inclusive, culturally sensitive health solutions that address their specific needs and improve their quality of life.
By collecting feedback, audits and monitoring improvements in women’s well-being throughout the project, we can identify improvement in key symptoms such as hot flushes, weight gain, and mood changes, along with barriers to physical activity. There is a significant lack of research specifically addressing the experiences of ethnically diverse women during menopause, particularly concerning exercise and physical activity. This gap hinders our understanding of how various cultural, social, and economic factors influence their experiences and the barriers they face, such as limited access to safe exercise environments, cultural stigma around physical activity, and healthcare disparities. As a result, tailored interventions that could effectively support these women in managing menopause symptoms and improving overall health are often missing.
This programme will empower 750 women, experiencing menopause, over a 3-year period, giving them the opportunity to access physical activity on a regular basis alongside create a network for women to share experiences and challenges on a weekly basis. To supplement the physical activity, we will be creating a resource to aid and guide the candidates around their experience.
To enhance the sustainability of this project we will be upskilling 105 individuals to continue this programme, leading the networking, highlighting any challenges and supporting the group.
“As a Muslim woman experiencing menopause, I encounter several challenges that make it difficult to maintain an exercise routine. The fatigue and hot flashes can be overwhelming, leading to a lack of motivation to stay active. Additionally, I often feel isolated because there aren’t many support systems within my community that understand what I’m going through. The availability of safe spaces for women to exercise, especially those that are culturally sensitive, is also limited. This project gives me hope that we can create a close-knit community where women like me feel understood and supported. I’m excited about the possibility of tailored exercise programs that resonate with our experiences and cultural backgrounds. I believe that together, we can make a real difference in managing menopause symptoms and improving our overall health and well-being.” – Sabina currently going through Perimenopause
“We are proud and excited to work with such great partners on this important project. The need for this programme is huge, for not only the physical benefits but also the mental and social impacts. A huge thank you to players of People’s Postcode Lottery for enabling this programme. We look forward to sharing our learnings with the wider sector” Shaheen Bi, Director of Research at Sporting Equals
We will be running a 12-week pilot programme in London. This will help shape the programme, to roll out in two other major cities, impacting more women.
To support this work, we will be working closely with Veerpal Sandhu, the Menopause Clinician and reaching out to the wider sports sector including Women in Sport, Well HQ and other sector partners.
Veerpal Sandhu: The Menopause Clinician is a community dedicated expert specialising in menopause and mental health. She will support this project aimed at improving the well-being of women during menopause by promoting culturally sensitive interventions and fostering community engagement.
“Women from diverse backgrounds often encounter barriers such as cultural norms, lack of safe spaces for exercise, language issues in health education, and economic factors that limit access to fitness resources. Without culturally tailored interventions, these women may be underserved, particularly as they are already at a higher risk for chronic conditions like diabetes and heart disease. Exercise not only serves as a key non-pharmacological way to manage menopause symptoms, but also improves mental health by reducing stress, anxiety, and depression—issues that are often amplified in marginalized communities. By focusing on feedback throughout this project, we can create inclusive, community-driven programs that increase motivation, break down psychosocial barriers, and promote engagement in culturally relevant exercise activities, like group sessions or dance classes. Ultimately, this project will help close health disparities, improve symptom management, and foster long-term well-being for ethnically diverse women.”
We know the data on this topic is limited, and therefore want to share our learnings far and wide to ensure the sector is best equipped to support this demographic moving forwards. If you are interested in getting involved and supporting this work, please get in touch at info@sportingequals.org.uk.
If you are an ethnically diverse women based in London and would like to be part of this programme. Please register your interest by Click here.
