Dr Sophie Buchaillard is an author, educator and counsellor. She runs coaching sessions and workshops to help empower women. A former Welsh Government board member of Women in STEM, she was shortlisted for a Chwarae Teg Womanspire Award after contributing to the report Talented Women for a Successful Wales (Welsh Government, 2016). The author of two novels, Assimilation (Honno, 2024) and This Is Not Who We Are (Seren, 2022), Sophie was shortlisted for the Wales Book of the Year Award 2023. Her poetry was shortlisted for the Bridport Poetry Prize 2024 and she has written extensively in collections, newspapers and magazines about the position of women and migrants in contemporary Wales. She holds a PhD in Critical and Creative Writing from Cardiff University, where she taught until 2024.
Writing the Menopause (Online)
Despite increased mentions of the menopause in the media, there are still very few activities that address the experience itself, in an environment which facilitates creative engagement with the theme.
This online workshop series will offer an opportunity for individuals experiencing perimenopausal and menopausal symptoms to come together, share and write about their experience over the course of four weeks.
This workshop is for anyone looking for a creative activity that allows them to discuss, reflect and share their own, individual experiences of the menopause. The aim is for you to build confidence and develop strategies to express the emotions and physical experiences that come with a body’s life cycle, yet is still shrouded in silence, shame and misconceptions.
This workshop will empower you to use writing to express your individual experience in an inclusive and supportive environment, and to consider how important your voice is in helping normalise conversations about the menopause, at home and in the workplace.
Please Note: All times are GMT
Structure:
Week 1, Tuesday 3 March
18.45 – 19.00: Everyone gathers online in the course Zoom room. A member of the Tŷ Newydd team will welcome you and the tutors. You’ll get to introduce yourself, meet everyone, and settle in.
19.00 – 20.00: First workshop
20.00 – 20.15: Comfort break
20.15 – 21.15: Second workshop
Week 2, Tuesday 10 March
18.45 – 19.00 : The Zoom room is opened ahead of the first session to give you time to settle in, ask questions and chat to your fellow participants.
19.00 – 20.00: Third workshop
20.00 – 20.15: Comfort break
20.15 – 21.15: Fourth workshop
Week 3, Tuesday 17 March
18.45-19.00: The Zoom room is opened ahead of the first session to give you time to settle in, ask questions and chat to your fellow participants.
19.00-20.00: Guest reading
Week 4, Tuesday 24 March
18.45 – 19.00: Everyone gathers online in the course Zoom room. A member of the Tŷ Newydd team will welcome you and the tutors. You’ll get to introduce yourself, meet everyone, and settle in.
19.00 – 20.00: Fifth workshop
20.00 – 20.15: Comfort break
20.15 – 21.15 : Sixth workshop
Tutor
