A Birmingham partnership comprising BVSC, Salus Fatigue Foundation and Disability Resource Centre has been announced as one of 16 organisations in England to receive government funding to support women experiencing reproductive health issues in the workplace.

The Funding follows successful applications to this year’s Voluntary, Community and Social Enterprise Health and Wellbeing Fund. It will help women to remain in or return to the workplace through and following pregnancy, pregnancy loss or menopause, and delivers on commitments in the first ever Women’s Health Strategy for England.

The partnership will develop a new service that supports women's hormonal health in the workplace and unemployed women experiencing hormonal health issues to re-join the workforce. Our aspiration is that every woman of working age who needs support with their hormonal health receives it in a timely and accessible way that is personal to them. Our project will be aimed at women in work and those seeking to return to the labour market. A key aspect of our approach being to support workplaces and culture being more accepting and supportive for women with hormonal health issues. By developing an Employer Pledge we hope to support employers in making women feel confident in applying for employment where their health and well-being will be prioritised.

Launched in April 2018, the Voluntary, Community and Social Enterprise (VCSE) Health and Wellbeing Fund is a joint initiative run by the Department of Health and Social Care, NHS England and the UK Health Security Agency. A new round of the fund is launched every year and typically runs over 3 financial years.

The theme of the fund for 2022 to 2025 is women’s reproductive wellbeing in the workplace. Linking in with the development of the new Women’s Health Strategy, this fund aims to support organisations that can provide a holistic support offer to assist women experiencing reproductive health issues – for example, menopause, fertility problems, miscarriage and pregnancy loss, menstrual health, and gynaecological conditions – to remain in and return to the workplace.

Minister Helen Whately said:

"We are supporting women experiencing reproductive health issues – such as pregnancy loss or menopause – to remain in or return to the workplace through the Health and Wellbeing Fund.

"We have already put women’s health at the top of the agenda by publishing the first ever Women’s Health Strategy for England, but there’s always more that can be done.

"The contribution that the VCSE sector makes towards improving health and care is invaluable, and improves the health of thousands of women."

The funding announcement demonstrates the government’s commitment to improving the health of women through the first-ever Women’s Health Strategy, a landmark moment in addressing entrenched inequalities, and improving the health and wellbeing of women across the country.

Ruth May, Chief Nursing Officer for England, said:

"The VCSE sector makes a significant contribution towards improving health and care, and these projects will help deliver some of the important commitments set out in the Women’s Health Strategy for England.

The sector brings a wealth of understanding of the impact on people’s lives, including those from disadvantaged groups, helping us provide positive support to even more women wanting to remain in and return to the workplace."

Linda Jones, founder and chief executive of Salus Fatigue Foundation (Salus) said:

“Every woman of working age who needs support with their hormonal health will receive it in a way that is personal to them. Women will feel empowered through understanding their reproductive health needs and employers will have better understanding on how to support their workforce. Women will have the opportunity to have a voice and to be heard to create future change and inform policy in reproductive health”.

Full details about how this support will be delivered in Birmingham will be announced in early 2023.