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Menopause event: A red heart shaped balloon floating against a pink wall

Love Lounge next event: Menopause meet up!

By Disability, Event, Sex & disability, Undressing Disability

Menopause meet up:

We are pleased to announce our next Love Lounge event! We have partnered with the wonderful Vagina Museum in London and the experts at the Menopause Consortium to hold a very special event on October 24th

As part of our Love Lounge events, we will give you the chance to ask the experts anything you want on menopause, body, mind and soul. As well as what this might mean for transgender and non-binary people going through menopause or any menopause and career-based questions.

What happens on the night:

Enhance the UK CEO Jennie Williams will host a panel discussion with our experts before a social event. As part of our social event, you can meet the makers who are shaking up the menopause care industry and secure some goodies and discounts!

There are goodie bags for the first 30 people to enter the event with all proceeds from ticket sales going to Undressing Disability and the Vagina Museum.

The details:

Date: 24.10.24 7pm – 9 pm

Location: The Vagina Museum, 276 Poyser St, London E2 9RF

Click here to go to the Vagina Museum website

Meet the experts

We’ve combined expert doctors from the Menopause Consortium, transgender menopause researchers from the Nottingham Transgender Health Centre in Nottingham, employment and wellness experts to make an incredibly knowledgable panel.

Dr Liz Tatham: systemic physiotherapist at Menopause Consortium

Liz is a highly experienced Systemic Psychotherapist with over 30 years of experience working in the NHS and the last 10 years as a private psychotherapist. Her passion for mental health began when she trained as a Psychiatric nurse many years ago. However, it was not until she completed her Systemic Psychotherapy training in 2001 and went on to tutor on the same course at the University of Birmingham that her career really took off.

Although Liz enjoyed teaching, she was keen to return to clinical practice, and so she began working independently. Her experience has been diverse, having worked with families and individuals in various settings, including within the context of mental health, such as the Nottingham Eating Disorder team. It was during this time that Liz became increasingly interested in hormonal health and early-onset menopause.

Dr Joanne Hobson: Clinical lead, director and menopause specialist at Menopause Consortium. MBBS, DRCOG, BMS Menopause Specialist.

Dr. Joanne Hobson is renowned for her expertise in menopause care and advocacy for women’s well-being. As a British Menopause Society Menopause specialist and a member of the Institute of Psychosexual Health, Dr. Hobson has dedicated her career to revolutionising menopause care and reshaping healthcare professional education.

With a background as a General Practitioner, Dr. Hobson embarked on a transformative journey that led her to become a leading force in community gynaecology and menopause care. Over the past 15 years, she has served both in the National Health Service (NHS) and her private practice, touching the lives of countless women with her empathetic and evidence-based approach.

Dr. Hobson’s commitment to education is as steadfast as her dedication to patient care. She is a trainer for the British Menopause Society and previously was a Principal Trainer with the Faculty of Sexual Reproductive Health (FSRH) in menopause care. Through these roles, she has contributed to raising the standards of menopause care by equipping healthcare professionals with the latest insights and best practices.

Dr. Joanne Hobson’s legacy will be one of empowerment, education, and unwavering dedication to women’s health.

Dr Carrie Martin: pelvic health physiotherapist at Menopause Consortium

Carrie is a highly skilled and compassionate Pelvic Health Physiotherapist dedicated to improving the lives of women through specialised care.

Carrie’s journey in the field of physiotherapy began at The University of Nottingham, where she obtained her BSc Hons degree in Physiotherapy in 2012. After graduating, she embarked on a career in the National Health Service (NHS) at Nottingham University Hospitals. Over ten years, she honed her expertise in various aspects of physiotherapy while working alongside renowned clinical specialists, therapists, and consultants.

During her time at Nottingham University Hospitals, Carrie developed a deep interest in pelvic health. Recognizing the profound impact that pelvic floor issues can have on a person’s quality of life, she dedicated herself to expanding her skills and knowledge in this specialized area. Her determination to provide the highest standard of care led her to transition into the private sector, allowing her to extend her services and reach more women in need.

Carrie’s expertise in pelvic health encompasses a wide range of conditions and concerns. She has successfully treated numerous women experiencing bladder problems, bowel problems, prolapse, pelvic floor dysfunction, sexual dysfunction, and the challenges of recovering from childbirth. Additionally, she offers guidance and support to women navigating the menopause.

Click here to visit the Menopause Consortium website

Margarita Bennett: wellness, Clinical Massage Therapist, Cranio Sacral Practitioner & pre/postnatal Specialist.

Margarita is a Clinical Massage Therapist, Cranio Sacral Practitioner, Pre and Postnatal Specialist, and Psychic Healer. With nearly two decades dedicated to understanding the human body, she has supported countless patients on their healing journeys.

She works with a huge spectrum of individuals from Depression to Cancer, from Fibromyalgia to post-operative, from fertility, prenatal or postnatal issues to Menopause. People of all ages and genders. She runs a successful practice in East Sussex, England, and she is also a wife and mother of two teens.

Claire Holland: Deputy CEO of Enhance the UK / Undressing Disability

Claire Holland has previously worked in Education, social care and for various charities in advice and advocacy roles. Through her role at Enhance the UK, Claire has a wealth of experience of training and consulting with organisations on topics such as inclusion, the equality act, legal duties and disability awareness.

You can click here to visit the Enhance the UK website

Dr Nat Thorne HND, BSc, MSc, Education, Evaluation and Research Associate at the Nottingham Centre for Transgender Health

Dr Nat Thorne started their career and an LGBTQ+ journalist, freelancing for Diva, The Pink Paper and national press before becoming the editor of Fyne Times magazine. During their 16 years as a journalist, they also studied for a BSc in Psychology and took the big step of leaving their editorial career to come to the University of Nottingham where they completed their Masters and their PhD.

Their thesis examined mental health in non-binary people and how language has a negative influence on this. After graduation,  they joined the Nottingham Centre for Transgender Health as a Research Lead where they have been involved in research relating to health disparities for trans people and menopause in the LGBTQ+ population. Nat was also the founding Chair of a local support charity called Notts Trans Hub.

Click here to visit the Nottingham centre for Transgender Health

Meet the makers

Meet the meno-makers: There are so many wonderful companies out there making products designed to make our menopause easier. We couldn’t resist inviting some of the best in the business to come and share their expertise with you.

Rocks Off Ltd is the leader in their field and recently launched (in collaboration with us!) the amazing Quest range of accessible sex toys. Rocks Off has pioneered some of the biggest changes in the sex toy market such as the worlds first liquid silicone, a hands-free C-shaped product.

Rocks Off will bring the incredible Quest range to the event where you can talk to the experts about all things sexy toy-related. They will also be sharing some of their new range with us.

Click here to visit the Rocks-Off website 

About the Menopause Consortium

Dr. Hobson together with Sally Kitchen, created The Menopause Consortium a visionary initiative that is transforming menopause care on multiple fronts.

Driven by their shared vision, Dr. Hobson and Sally Kitchen have laid the foundation for a new era in women’s health, driven by the Three Pillar approach – Patient Care, Education for Healthcare Professionals, and Corporate Training.

*Thank you to Auris Ear Care!

Auris Ear Care is the UK’s first CQC regulated on demand ear care clinic. They provide ear wax removal, ear infection treatment and ear foreign body removal services throughout the UK. Thank you for your generosity and we look forward to receiving our branded backdrop.

Undressing Disability: A group of very hot disabled people standing in their underwear smiling at the camera

How to get involved with Undressing Disability

By Disability, Event, Sex & disability, Undressing Disability

How To Get Involved With Undressing Disability

Do you like what we do? Looking to find info on how you can support us?

Keep reading and learn how to get involved with our Undressing Disability campaign.

First of all – who are we?

Undressing Disability is a campaign by Enhance the UK. Our campaign is dedicated to raising and improving the standards and awareness of sexual health for people with disabilities.

Visit the Enhance the UK website

Living with a disability can be an isolating experience. Alongside any physical barriers, there continues to be a significant amount of prejudice towards disability within society.

Many people mistakenly believe that disabled people can’t, don’t, or won’t engage in sexual activity. This is simply not true – we’re all sexual beings. However, this stigma is often internalised by disabled people, leading to self-esteem and confidence issues. 

Disability can have a significant impact on someone’s sex life, but it seems like not many people are out there wanting to talk about it. Our mission here is to improve sexual health standards and awareness for disabled people. We want to ensure they have access to fulfilling sex, dating, and relationship lives that all of us deserve.

Click to see more information on the Undressing Disability campaign

So, what does Undressing Disability do?

A whole bunch of stuff!

  • Share expert advice, resources, training and education 
  • Run campaigns on sex, love and relationships
  • Run free Love Lounge sessions 
  • Host a podcast and events 
  • Have developed Quest, a new range of accessible sex toys

Why volunteer or fundraise for us?

Your fundraising and volunteering efforts are vital in keeping our campaign going. We’re a small charity, so the impact of your support is substantial. Your support goes towards:

  • Keeping our free services ongoing (we cannot do this without funding coming in)
  • Providing services that are vital to disabled people who need help or might feel lonely
  • Helping us to reach more disabled people who need our services 

We’d be remiss not to point out that choosing to support us through volunteering or fundraising delivers on the feel-good factor. It’s also a lot of fun!

What types of fundraising can you do?

Fancy doing a little fundraising for Undressing Disability? There’s no end to the types of money-raising activities in which to get involved! We encourage you to use your interests as a jumping-off point, whether you’re a keen runner looking to take on a marathon or love hosting coffee mornings.

Click here to contact us with your ideas, and let’s have a chat!

For those who want to get involved, we run a breakthrough board that anyone can join. This is a dedicated community of fundraisers who work together to achieve donation goals. 

What volunteering opportunities are there?

Volunteering more up your alley? There’s a whole load of volunteering opportunities to get involved with, including:

  • Donating spaces and venues to hold Undressing Disability events 
  • Writing blogs for our website
  • Helping out with our social media channels
  • Skill sharing – think photography, videography, graphic design, and all that good stuff

Just a heads up that we don’t offer work experience or office-based volunteering. But if you have an idea, let us know – suggestions are always welcome!

All five of the incredible Quest sex toys from the new range

Introducing Quest: our new line of inclusive sex toys

By Disability, Event, Sex & disability, Undressing Disability

We are beyond thrilled to introduce you to the Quest line of sex toys developed with our partners, Rocks Off. We’ve taken our time to get everything perfect and you know what they say….. good things come to those who wait.

We all have to start somewhere: workshops and focus groups

What a journey! Going on a Quest is always better in a group so with that in mind, we consulted with colleagues, friends, family and disability communities to find out what you really wanted.

We held ideation workshops, focus groups and meetings focused on discovering what people really need from their sex toys.

We realised that buying a toy is a journey which starts from the moment you think about potentially purchasing a new product. As a team we truly considered the experience for those with physical, sensory or cognitive impairments.

This meant examining how easily the toys could be bought, the packaging opened, the toy charged and the instructions understood. Of course, we also considered product use and enjoyment for those living independently and within support environments.

Shop the new range by clicking here

The Quest launch party in London

Features

When it came time for design, our focus groups and workshops had clear ideas of what we needed to include.

We’ve put this into practice by adding: remote controls for solo or couple play, Silicone straps, large tactile buttons, magnetic snap charging, visual and harpic feedback as settings change, easy operation, contrasting colours, Braille and QR codes for audio descriptions of product and pull tab packaging

But that’s not all.

We want to hear from you about the design. You can leave us reviews or let us know what you think.

the quest range pink wrist strap remote control

Features in focus:

Here are three of our favourite features in more focus.

Remotes and wrist straps

The design of the wrist strap and remote is ideal for anyone who may have mobility issues or different grip strengths. It allows you to take control, or your partner, for up to ten meters away for hands-free fun.

Bigger Buttons

Who has time for tricky buttons or small switches?

We’ve created large, raised buttons which are easy to access and ideal for users with visual impairments. It’s also great for neurodivergent people who may prefer to focus on sensations, not instruction manuals.

Sensory feedback

We’ve added LED lights and vibrations that can let you know when the product is turned on or off and charging. So you won’t be left in the dark about what your product is doing.

A Quest for accessible packaging

Packaging can be really tricky especially when you just want to get to your new favourite toy as quickly as possible.

We’ve designed the Quest boxes to allow access for those with visual impairments to neurodiversity to those with less dexterity. The boxes have a simple pull tab that can be used with a finger or mouth which allows the contents to glide out of the box.

The colour palette has been carefully selected along with font size and placement. There are also braille QR codes that load audio product descriptions.

Other features include:

  • Remote controls with silicone straps
  • Large tactile buttons
  • Magnetic snap charging
  • Both visual and haptic feedback as settings change
  • Easy operation and use

Want to learn more about the Quest line of toys then click here

Body safe materials

It’s important to make sure that when you are shopping for new toys, you stay safe. With this in mind, our partner, Rocks Off carries out rigorous lab testing which ensures the toys are produced in a sterile, clean environment.

When it comes to materials, we use ABS plastic which is non-porous, and durable along with medical-grade silicone which is non-allergenic. All toys use premium metals with no nasty nickels or cheap alloys.

Would you like to learn more about Rocks Off body safe material? You can click here to visit the Rocks Off page

Sustainability

Rocks Off has also thought about how to make the products as sustainable as possible. The packaging is recyclable, and biodegradable and has been certified as sustainable by the Forest Stewardship Council.

Each product is packaged in cardboard covered in a biodegradable coating, all sourced from FSC-certified suppliers.

When it comes to the toys themselves, we used ABS plastic which can be recycled along with medical-grade silicone.

 

Interested in reading more about body safe sex toys and how to find them? You can read our detailed blog on what to look for and what to avoid!

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