This month marks the beginning of something very special for us at MCT – the launch of our brand new Midlife Matters programme.
Midlife Matters is a completely new area of work for our team, but one that we believe is incredibly important for the women in our community. Over the past several months, myself, Kylie and Kerry have spent many hours developing this programme from scratch. From early brainstorming sessions to building a full 12-week programme, it has been a true team effort.
To help us shape the programme in the best possible way, we took part in some incredibly helpful online training and also attended a fantastic live training session with a menopause expert. This learning was invaluable during the early planning stages and helped us ensure that Midlife Matters would be meaningful, supportive and genuinely beneficial for the women taking part.
I will admit that in the beginning I had a small worry. Following our Montrose-wide survey in 2025, we knew there was a clear need for this type of programme, but I still wondered whether anyone would actually sign up.
I needn’t have worried.
When registrations opened, the programme filled within a week. The response from our community was overwhelming and confirmed exactly why initiatives like this matter so much.
The programme officially began on Monday 2nd March, and over the next three months our participants will explore a wide range of topics including:
- Mental health
- Diet and exercise
- Stress management and self-care
- Sexual health
- Confidence and personal wellbeing
Alongside these discussions and learning sessions, we have been incredibly fortunate to receive support from a number of amazing partners.
We are very grateful to Voluntary Action Angus, who generously provided £500 in funding to support the programme. We have also been delighted by the enthusiasm of several inspiring local businesswomen who are contributing their expertise by delivering physical activity sessions throughout the programme. These sessions range from yoga and Pilates to personal training and even sound baths — offering participants the chance to try new things and reconnect with their wellbeing.
It truly is a privilege and a joy to work with a group of women who recognise that their health and wellbeing are vital parts of life and who are committed to becoming the best possible versions of themselves.
Although we have only just begun, I am already looking forward to reflecting on how much our participants have learned and grown when we reach the end of the pilot programme in May. We plan to mark the end of the journey with a special releasing ceremony on the beach, which feels like a very fitting way to celebrate everything the group will have achieved together.
For now, my focus is on making this the best programme it can possibly be and ensuring that we can secure funding to allow us to run a second intake later this year so that even more women in our community can benefit.
While this programme is part of my job, it is also something I have fully immersed myself in. Having the opportunity to help people and make a difference is something I care deeply about and this programme is a perfect example of that. At the same time, the experience has been just as beneficial for me personally.
I am incredibly proud of Midlife Matters and of all the amazing programmes the entire team at MCT works so hard to deliver. Together, we are committed to ensuring that our community feels safe, healthy and heard.
Gemma Cruickshank
Operations Lead