By Trudi Roscouet
WELL, what a ride these past two weeks have been. If life had a speed limit, I’d probably be on the verge of losing my licence.
Let’s start with Eve Studios – a project that has been ten years in the making (though, if you ask my close friends, they’d probably say it’s been in my head for longer).
Some of you might remember Curves, which closed its doors, leaving women without a dedicated space for judgment-free fitness.
That’s when I first had the idea – back in 2015 – to create a wellness hub where women (and children at the time) could train, learn and feel supported.
The plan was in place, the green light was on, but then the investor said “wrong end of town” and slammed on the brakes.
Fast forward a decade, and, despite assuming someone else would take up the torch, I found myself right back where I started – this time with a team, a building, and no warning lights. Enter my good friend Hannah Jacques, who nudged me towards 10 Royal Square, and, suddenly, the vision was alive again. I had meetings with Planning, roped in Deputies Binet and Howell, and made sure to work with the government instead of against them (a strategy I highly recommend).
The location couldn’t be more poetic – Eve Studios will stand where the original corn market once was, built by none other than a woman, Suzanne Dumaresq, who funded it out of her own pocket in order to build her dream town house, now the United Club.
Once a gentlemen’s club, the United Club is transforming under the presidency of Chris Dobbing into an inclusive hub where men and women alike can enjoy a lunch with a Royal Square view. Fitting, isn’t it? And to celebrate, we’ll be hosting the official Eve Studios launch on the balcony overlooking the Royal Square – so stay tuned for details.
And here’s the full-circle moment: I also happen to be leading the revival of the Farmers Market, launching on 25 April 2025 at the Town Church.
The Farmers Market revival
After months of planning, I’m thrilled to announce that the Farmers Market will officially return to town, running on the last Friday of every month from April to October. Alternating between the Town Church and the Royal Square, this market will bring together local farmers, bakers and artisans, giving them a dedicated platform to sell fresh, seasonal produce directly to the community. It’s been quite the journey, but we’re finally bringing this vision to life.
Gender equity: not just another buzzword
While signing the lease for Eve Studios, I was also busy planning a Gender Equity Conference (I can already hear the collective sigh). But let me be clear – this isn’t about “strong feminists taking over” (we’ve done that already, right?). This is about balance.
Enter Lee Chambers, a man on a mission to help boys and young men redefine their roles in society. His work in lower socio-economic areas of NW England is a wake-up call – the NHS in that region is £20 million in debt, and yet we worry about Jersey. His approach? Helping young men understand the importance of shared responsibilities, parental leave and real equality in the workplace.
We visited schools, corporates and community leaders, discussing how we shift outdated mindsets and enable future generations to thrive. This isn’t about tipping the scales in favour of women – it’s about ensuring they don’t tip against them.
Dental drama.
As if all this wasn’t enough, my mouth decided it needed a storyline of its own. I somehow managed to reject not one, but TWO crowns (I always knew I was rebellious). In the middle of a mad rush to rework our Gender Health Event, my car broke down, so I showed up at the dentist an hour and a half early. Lucky for me, Chris the dentist works at the speed of light – 24 minutes later, I was done. My event co-organiser summed it up perfectly: “Did you go to KwikFit? That was ridiculously fast.”
Bridging the gaps (literally and figuratively)
On a more serious note, I’m still fighting through the tangled web that is our healthcare system, trying to get mum back home from residential care. The lack of communication between various departments has me pulling my hair out (which, at this point, is becoming a health issue of its own). Fingers crossed April brings some much-needed solutions.
I wrapped up these two wild weeks by collaborating with Bupa on menopause awareness for insurance brokers, while also working with men’s health advocates – because, let’s face it, health issues don’t discriminate.
There’s a huge amount of work to be done, but if we can come together, collaborate, and create solutions, the possibilities are endless.
#BeTheChange
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Trudi Roscouet is the founder of Vitality40Plus, a campaigner for women’s health and closing the gender health gap. She is a leading voice in menopause awareness and workplace wellbeing. For support, subscribe to Vitality 40 Plus | Let’s Talk Menopause or email trudi@vitality40plus.com.
