Sporting Equals has officially launched MenoFit, a groundbreaking new initiative designed to make menopause visible and supported across every community in the UK. The national launch, held today in London, marked a pivotal moment in the conversation around women’s health, inclusion, and cultural equity.

Funded by players of the People’s Postcode Lottery , MenoFit will support 250 women across London, primarily from Black, South Asian, and ethnically diverse backgrounds, through the perimenopause and menopause transition. The programme combines physical activity, education, and community engagement to improve health outcomes and challenge the deep-rooted inequalities that persist in menopause awareness and care.

“Today isn’t just about launching a project — it’s about starting a movement,” said Nik Trivedi, Acting CEO of Sporting Equals. “Menopause affects over half of the UK population directly, yet remains one of the most neglected health and social issues of our time. For too long, diverse women’s voices have been missing from the conversation — MenoFit is here to change that.”

Addressing the hidden inequality

Research shows stark disparities in how menopause is experienced and supported across ethnic groups.

· Black women typically reach menopause two years earlier than white women yet are underrepresented in research and policy.

· South Asian women report higher levels of sleep disturbance and low mood but face barriers to clinical support due to stigma or language.

· Only 8% of ethnically diverse women feel they have adequate workplace menopause support (Fawcett Society, 2022).

Behind these figures are women leaving jobs, withdrawing from relationships, and losing confidence because existing systems were not designed with them in mind.

“MenoFit recognises that this is not just a health issue — it’s a matter of equity, belonging, and justice,” said Nik Trivedi.

A community-driven model built by women, for women

MenoFit is co-designed with women with lived experience, ensuring that every aspect — from content to delivery — reflects the needs and voices of the communities it serves. Through focus groups, peer consultations, and partnerships with community and faith centres, MenoFit meets women where they already are.

The programme offers:

· Weekly online physical activity sessions

· Monthly in-person gatherings

· Menopause education and wellbeing workshops

· Peer-led support networks, including digital communities

By taking a place-based approach, MenoFit removes barriers such as travel, language, and cultural stigma — creating safe, trusted spaces for women to learn, connect, and thrive.

From local change to national impact

Beyond direct delivery, MenoFit aims to drive systemic change by building an evidence base that reflects the realities of ethnically diverse women in the UK. Insights from participants will inform national policy, workplace practice, and healthcare provision, ensuring that inclusion is embedded by design, not by chance.

“True inclusion doesn’t happen by accident — it happens through intentional design and collaboration,” added Nik Trivedi. “When one woman is empowered, her whole community shifts.”

A call to action

MenoFit invites funders, researchers, and partners to join this growing movement — to ensure that menopause is no longer a journey of silence or shame, but one of strength, visibility, and pride.