Become a Member of Middle Years Monday
© Pip Wilcox
Our Membership doors are now open
We usually have two or three Membership joining periods each year, when our Membership doors open for a brief period to enable a small number of new Members to join us. This ensures the sense of gentle and intimate community - without noise or overwhelm - which is an intrinsic part of MYM Membership.
We have the pleasure and privilege of having around 70-100 beautiful middle years women from all around the world in our private community. And we so look forward to getting to know the new Members who choose to start their Middle Years Monday journey with us this Winter.
“Dearest Pip, I am incredibly grateful to you for what you have created at Middle Years Monday.
MYM and your leadership is something rare and beautiful and that is reflected by the beautiful women you draw into the circles because you have laid the welcome carpet for just that kind of woman.
On the Jewish New Year we ask to be inscribed in the Book of Life when we have led a life of good deeds the previous year. May you be inscribed in the Book of Life for creating, running and LIVING MYM.
I really feel like what you have created is unique and so deeply helpful to so many women navigating life in our changing bodies, life with too much or not enough, life with so much loss and life with moments of true grace. Life in a pandemic for goodness sake!
What a time for you to have brought MYM into being, with a LOT of hard work I am sure, but so graciously and so full of warmth and humor, and yes, seemingly so effortlessly. The way you ask people questions and introduce your deeply gifted presenters and share bits of your life and make room for all types.
Thank you for having me at your campfire.”
A Glimpse Inside Middle Years Monday
What will my Membership include?
Community: A private community of around 70-100 middle years women from around the world to connect and share your stories, challenges and wisdom with; to talk and listen to; and be heard by - as often as you like.
Support & Expertise: An intimate space for all of your middle years wonderings. Through Middle Years Monday you have access to an incredible collective of women and a wealth of wisdom, support and expertise - from me, your fellow Members and from our regular and guest experts.
Weekly Cuppas | hosted by Pip: We alternate between Mondays and Tuesdays and always meet at 8pm BST/GMT
Weekly Co-Working mornings | hosted by Pip: We meet on Mondays from 8am - 12pm BST/GMT
Fortnightly Book Group | co-hosted by Pip: We meet on alternate Tuesdays at 8pm BST/GMT
Monthly Live Workshops, Talks, Interviews & Well-being Events | with Guest Experts: Start times vary between 5pm to 8pm BST/GMT
Monthly Themed Cuppas | hosted by Pip: Once a month our usual weekly Cuppas are replaced by a themed Cuppa where we meet to share our thoughts, experiences, wisdom and challenges around a pre-arranged topic. These take place on a Monday or Tuesday at 8pm BST/GMT
Access to our private Members’ Library: With 100+ audio and video recordings of past live events
Ad-hoc Collective Projects: ie. our MYM 100-Day Project
Integration: Every year, we have several weeks during which there are no live events. This is a lovely opportunity for Members to slow down; to dive deeper into one or two of the topics we’ve focused on in MYM and which have particularly captured their imagination; to integrate some of the learning they have experienced in the previous months; or simply to dip into the treasure chest that is the Members’ Library and to catch up with recordings of some of the delicious sessions they’ve missed. Our breaks are spread throughout the year and we have around a fortnight off every season ie. in the Spring, Summer, Autumn and Winter.
Please note: all of the above are UK timings (GMT or BST) and occasionally we need to make changes to the days on which we hold these events
>>> Your membership begins on 15th January. But as soon as you join, it is my pleasure to gift you immediate access to a specially chosen selection of video and audio recordings from our Members Library.
It is only through a small, steady stream of middle years women taking this leap of faith, that Middle Years Monday continues to blossom - so, as my way of thanking you for joining I have chosen replays of some of my personal favourite MYM member events for you to be able to dip into before your membership starts. Prepare to be changed and to experience lots of stimulation and illumination!
Please Note
If now feels like the right time to join us then please be aware:
The minimum Membership commitment is 6 months after which your Membership can be cancelled at any time. This provides MYM with a degree of financial sustainability, which enables me to confidently book brilliant guest speakers (safe in the knowledge that I will be able to pay them!)
The joining deadline is Sunday 14th January at the latest
Your Membership will begin on Monday 15th January
How much does it cost?
So that you understand the context of the different Payment Options, I’m going to give you a peek under the bonnet (or hood if you’re reading this from North America!) of Middle Years Monday.
Around 40% of the revenue that MYM generates through Membership fees is paid out to the glorious women that help me to make it such a special space (ie. our regular and guest contributors) and to the various tech platforms that make it possible (ie. Mailchimp, Memberspace, Squarespace, Canva, Stripe, Zoom etc etc). So with around 70-100 Members, the income that I draw from MYM is modest (albeit very welcome).
I am often told (by existing Members and others who want to see me and MYM thrive) that my Membership fees are ridiculously low. In many ways they are right - Membership is exceptionally good value.
However, it is important to me that being a part of this beautiful community isn’t only available to the financially privileged. So I want Membership to be as accessible as possible, whilst building financial sustainability for me and for MYM - in order that I can continue providing middle years women with this soft landing place for many years to come.
STANDARD PAYMENT OPTIONS
£33 per month + one-off joining fee of £37*
OR
£330 for your first year + one-off joining fee of £37* (ie. 12 months for the price of 10)
MYM Scholarships
If you are currently facing significant financial hardship please scroll down to (almost) the bottom of this page for details of how to apply for a MYM Scholarship - it’s a super easy process and the deadline for applications is Wednesday 10th January.
We will each have our own idea of what constitutes significant financial hardship. To help give some context to this Joining Option, MYM Scholarship recipients are often single parents or single income householders and/or due to things like chronic illness or heavy caring responsibilities have severely limited incomes. Thank you for your integrity.
* a note about joining fees
I’m passionate about making new MYM Members feel hugely welcome and helping them to settle in. This includes hosting a special Cuppa for new Members and inviting you to have a 1:1 welcome with me. The joining fee is a contribution towards some of these costs. It is a lifetime joining fee - in other words no matter how many times you leave and rejoin MYM you will not have to pay this fee again.
>>> If you KNOW YOU WANT to join us, reserve your Membership place below.
>>> if you’d like more general information about Middle Years Monday CLICK here.
“Pip, this circle of women you have created is a haven. I feel that the support, the kindness, the gentleness, the patience and the nourishment I get is essential. I am very grateful.”
What happens next?
STRAIGHT AWAY
Your membership begins on 15th January. But when you join it will be my pleasure to gift you immediate access to a specially chosen selection of some of my personal favourite video and audio recordings from our Members Library.
ON MONday 15th JANUARY:
New Members join us in cohorts as this helps to create a sense of warmth and community - that’s why your Membership will start on Monday 15th January, by which time there’ll be a wonderful small group of you ready to start getting to know each other and existing Members. On that day I'll be in touch by email with everything you’ll need to start enjoying being part of the MYM community.
You’ll receive an invitation to book a personal 1:1 welcome to MYM with me. I love this opportunity to start getting to know new Members but there is no pressure whatsoever for you to accept my invitation if you’d rather settle into MYM more privately.
You will be sent the private password to our Members Area where you can access our stellar library of over 100 video and audio recordings of past live Member events.
You will start receiving invitations to all of our live Talks, Interviews, Workshops and Wellbeing Sessions.
You will start receiving invitations to our weekly Cuppas and Co-working sessions, our fortnightly Book Group sessions and monthly Themed Cuppas.
If you like the idea of coming along to our fortnightly Book Group you are so very welcome to join us. We’ll start reading Braiding Sweetgrass by Robin Wall Kimmerer in January and our first Book Group gathering to discuss the Preface and ‘Planting Sweetgrass’ section of that book will take place at 8pm GMT on Tuesday 23rd January. Do get yourself a copy if you’d like to be part of this shared experience!
“Pip, I want to let you know what an amazing difference you are making in the world. Being part of this community has been so healing and so comforting to me in a difficult season in the world and, at times, in my own life. Thank you so much.”
MYM is for you if…
You are looking for community and connection
You relish deep and honest sharing and listening
You have a curious and open mind
You seek both stretch and ease
You are interested in personal development
You are interested in self care
You are open-hearted and inclusive to both those who you feel easy simpatico with and those who have characteristics, histories and stories different to your own - no matter ethnicity, creed, domestic set-up, economic situation, relationship status, family set-up, size, sexual orientation, disability, communication style, neurodiversity, health or gender assigned at birth.
You like the idea of being in a community led by a 53 year-old woman (that’s me, Pip!) who is still very much learning (and unlearning) about systems of oppression and my own privilege, but whose outlook and values broadly align with the Black Lives Matter, Intersectional Feminist, Refugees Welcome and Pro-choice movements and is in support of the Palestinian people’s struggle against apartheid and oppression. I do not have expert knowledge in any of these areas, am still locating myself and finding my voice within them and, for the most part, these topics are not an explicit focus within Middle Years Monday. But naming these things here is my attempt to be clear about some of my values and interests, which inevitably shape the culture of MYM - so that you can choose whether being in a community with and led by me feels like a good fit for you.
Join Now
Apply for a Middle Years Monday Scholarship
“I’m writing because my diary tells me that my 6 month scholarship finishes this month and I was wondering how much I will be paying in the future. When I applied I hoped to have company during the winter to keep me going, and people to talk to going through similar things, and I have gotten both from MYM, but being a member has exceeded my wildest expectations.
I never imagined I’d be coming to a group where I felt so at home so quickly, where I could be my authentic self almost at once, and where I would participate in so much... I have got so much out of being a member, both in friendship and experiences.
I had to say how much I appreciate the group and all you bring to it.”
To help middle years women for whom MYM Membership would otherwise be financially out of reach I am currently opening up 5 Scholarship places to those in financial need.
These Scholarships offer the recipients 6 months of MYM Membership with a c.50% reduction in the monthly membership fee - the women who take these places will pay £15 each month for six months (and no joining fee).
All Members are equally welcomed and appreciated no matter how much they’re paying for their Membership and only the Scholarship recipient and Pip know that they are paying this discounted membership fee.
Thank you for your integrity
These scholarship places are for middle years women in true financial need - thank you for your integrity.
Please share with me whatever you're comfortable sharing about your current situation and how 6 months of Middle Years Monday membership would help you at this time.
Every application will be approached with much warmth and respect.
Please send in your application by Wednesday 10th January and I'll get an answer to you ASAP.
Please apply for a scholarship place BY SENDING AN EMAIL TO HELLO@MIDDLEYEARSMONDAY.COM WITH YOUR ANSWERS TO THE FOLLOWING 3 QUESTIONS: *
What is it that attracts you to the Middle Years Monday Membership community?
Please share a little about why you are in need of a scholarship at this time.
Please provide your full name and email address.
(* please apply by Wednesday 10th January)
“I have been meaning to write just to thank you for creating this warm and nurturing space. It’s not something I would usually consider, joining a group of women to share such intimate details about life, but your warm presence on Instagram initially and then as you were pulling this together persuaded me I really did not want to miss out... I am loving the security of knowing that if something big comes up I have somewhere to take it. The warmth, spirit and community of everyone involved has blown me away. Thank you, from the bottom of my heart.”