Veronica Barnes won’t mind me telling you that she’s a senior. Still making beautiful bags and cards, she’s a mellower version of her dynamic and forceful self of her younger days. A fine figure of a woman and certainly doesn’t look her age!
She’s also one of the pioneering women who set up Blue Mountain Women Enterprise to reach out to the women of African and Jamaican heritage in a creative way. the Blue Mountains of Jamaica are a gorgeous reminder of the joys and challenges of health, in particular sickle cell and the menopause. Much of the carefully boxed history will become part of the Nottingham Black Archive
The name comes from the Blue Mountains of Jamaica but it’s a good metaphor for this life stage, a wonderful triumph when you get through it, new views, new vistas but on the way up it can be very, very daunting!
The Blue Mountain Women’s Group was set up as women’s community based group organising awareness seminars on the Menopause and other women’s issues. The idea is to provide information which will enable women to make informed decisions about their health and well being.
Veronica is available to speak and discuss with all women but particularly women of African and Caribbean descent. The role of elders like Veronica to Henpicked‘s work in developing education, resources and support around the menopause (see last week’s article in the Telegraph) in the creation of confidential, supportive and non-judgemental environments is vital. If you’d like Veronica to speak at your event, do contact her: veronicaebarnes@gmail.com
