STIRLING'S first Menopause Café, aimed at breaking down taboos over the ‘third stage of life’, will be held in the city’s Recyke-A-Bike Community Café later this month.

Following the success of the first Menopause Café, held in Perth last year, a growing number are being organised throughout Scotland and the rest of the UK.

Rachel Weiss of Rowan Consultancy, who founded the Menopause Café movement, said: “The Menopause Café is aimed at people of all ages who would like to come along and talk about the menopause, to share their stories, experiences and questions, all made that little bit easier with tea, coffee and cake.

“Unfortunately, many women feel that they should just ‘get on with’ the menopause, with some never talking to their friends of family about it, but the reality is that it affects all women eventually, not forgetting those who live and spend time with them.

"People can come along and just listen, or join in on the discussions, hopefully leaving with a clearer sense of the impact of the menopause on those who are experiencing it, alongside their families, friends and colleagues.”

The Stirling event is being organised by Jane Milne, who facilitates a local women’s conversation group called The Peloton.

She sees the Menopause Café as doing something similar.

She said: “I set up The Peloton last year as I felt there was a real need to create spaces where women could regularly come together for respectful and mindful conversation - and make some new friends along the way.

“Talking, and feeling heard, is really good for our well-being.

"The sessions are a bit like being in a book group without the book.

"We come together simply to sit, talk, share and listen. But we do it with nothing like phones or waiters to interrupt and distract us.

"We all agree to talk and listen respectfully, be open to each other’s points of view - and to keep what’s said in the sessions to ourselves. Basically, we have a really good respectful blether."

As some of The Peloton sessions have been held in Recyke-A-Bike’s recently opened community café, it was the obvious choice when Jane was deciding on a location for Stirling’s first Menopause Café.

She said: “Recyke-A-Bike does such a lot for its local community so I try to support them as much as possible.

"Also, the café is a nice, cosy space - and the cakes are delicious.

"It’s the perfect environment for bringing the people of Stirling together to chat about all things menopause."

The Menopause Café is being held from 7.15-9.15pm on Wednesday, February 28 and, although the event is free to attend, booking is required as space is limited.

To book a place please visit Eventbrite.

For more information, visit the website about the Menopause Café movement.