Hot Flush meets International Women’s Day

There’s something about International Women’s Day that feels quietly powerful, a moment in the year where women gather, share, and, sometimes without even realising it, shift something in the room.

So when Hot Flush hosted its very first menopause meet-up at The Growforward Project, Chelfham, as part of their IWD 2026 celebrations, it felt like exactly the right place to begin.

The weekend marked the launch of their new women’s community initiative, Ready, Set, Glow!, a beautifully named invitation for women to come together, try something new, build confidence, and, perhaps most importantly, connect, not in a forced, overly structured way, but in that gentle, come-as-you-are, take-what-you-need kind of way (full disclosure: As part of my freelance work at The Growforward Project I am presently leading this project).

In other words, the perfect setting for a Hot Flush gathering.

The day itself unfolded with a kind of effortless rhythm. Hepsie Goddin set the tone with her talk, I Bunked Off School to Serve the Queen, an inspiring, confidence-boosting session that reminded us all that life rarely follows a straight line (and thank goodness for that).

Then came Lucy Tomalin, founder of Take a Breath Physio, who led an insightful workshop on Breathing Pattern Disorder, something she frequently sees in women navigating hormonal changes, including perimenopause and menopause. It was one of those moments where you realise your body has been trying to tell you something all along… you just didn’t know how to listen.

And then, it was time for the Hot Flush meet-up.

Now, I had imagined something rather low-key, perhaps six women, a circle of chairs, a cup of tea, and a gentle exchange of shared experiences.

Instead?

I walked into a room where the chairs were facing forward.

Ah.

Like a hot flush… it hit me. I was expected to speak.

So I did.

I shared the story of how Hot Flush came to be, the confusion, the curiosity, the quiet determination to create something that might help other women feel less alone in the chaos of midlife. And in what can only be described as a moment of collective generosity, I was joined by some of North Devon’s brilliant women’s health and menopause practitioners/supporters, who, with very little notice, stepped forward to introduce themselves and share how they support women in this stage of life.

A heartfelt thank you to Rachel Stanton, Kath Floyd, Cecelia Ayles, Hepsie Goddin, Anna Weller, Lucy Tomalin, and Nicky Ruddick, your willingness to show up, share, and support made the session what it was.

And what it was… was something rather special.

Because as I looked around the room, full of women (and more than made it into the photo), I realised this wasn’t just a meet-up. It was a beginning.

A reminder that when women come together, even without a plan, something meaningful happens. Conversations start. Connections form. And slowly, the silence around menopause begins to lift.

The next Hot Flush menopause meet-up is Tuesday, 28th April, 12pm-1.15pm at The Growforward Project, Chelfham, Barnstaple, EX32 7LA. It’s free, just turn up.