STRIPPING OFF FOR CHRISTMAS

Helen King, 58, found a niche way to help women who were struggling with the menopause

- MOIRA HOLDEN

Swirling paper snowflakes gently landed on my eyelids as I wriggled out of my T-shirt and undid the clasp of my bra. Around me, another 10 women were doing exactly the same.

Soon we were completely starkers. Nonchalantly, we popped on Christmas hats and arranged our naked bodies behind wrapped presents and stockings, flashing our best smiles and nearly flashing something else!

The camera snapped away as we posed and laughed. It was September 2022 and we had disrobed in the courtyard of the local council offices to be photographed for the December page of our calendar the culmination of an idea to help women during their menopause.

MUTUAL SUPPORT

A colleague of mine, Tina, had been badly affected by hers and we decided to set up Menopause Meet, a support group in Scarborough. We secured a £1,000 grant and at our first session in March 2022, women who were struggling badly with their symptoms came through the door.