The second half of you life foundation

Founder of The Second Half Centre and Second Half Clubs

MEDIA

In February 2011, The Second Half of Your Life, a groundbreaking book that inspires women to rethink what it means to grow older was published by Penguin/Random House. Using the hormonal changes that occur around menopause as a springboard to transition from a woman's reproductive years to her self-productive years, it launched Jill into a journey to create The Second Half Foundation. All sales from this book go to fund The Second Half Foundation.

The Second Half Foundation (Reg. 1141988) was created in May 2011 with the mission of tackling loneliness and isolation for any person over the age of 50 years old. We wish to serve anyone affected by isolation from any background. We want to ensure that our growing population will have a place to develop more meaningful connections and continue to learn and grow.

In October 2012, The Second Half Centre opened its doors to the community in the NHS St Charles for Health and Wellbeing in North Kensington, London. The Second Half Centre has over 4000 members, 500 attendees each week and provides 90 hours of classes and workshops weekly and is run by Open Age.

On October 2nd 2016, The Second Half Centre, Diocese of London, Diocese of Middlesex, Open Age, Barclays Digital Eagles, City Harvest and Pret a Manger have piloted a new programme in London that goes to the heart of tackling the devastating effects of isolation in our older population. The Church of England are taking a lead role helping to create new church communities where churches become hubs of the community on days not of worship and promote active ageing.

Second Half Clubs launched in two local Churches in Westminster in November 2016: St Stephens on Rochester Row, SW1P 1LE and St Paul's on 5 Rossmore Road, NW1 6NJ where people can come together as a group to enjoy group activities and give purpose to enrich their lives of their community. Rediscovering the pleasures of old hobbies and finding new ones, excercising, feeling involved through volunteering, mentoring and teaching, making new friends, learning how to use iPads, staying connected to family friends and their community as well as learning new skills will be the mission of Second Half Clubs. Two more have launched in Janaury 2019: St Andrews Church on Greyhound Road and St Mary's The Bolton in Kensington. Our fifth church All Saints Fulham will be launching after Easter 2019.

The Second Half Foundation was created and founded by Lady Jill Shaw Ruddock CBE.

Please click on this link to see The Church of England’s post on Second Half Clubs and the wonderful work being done with our partners The Diocese of London, Open Age, Barclays Bank: Digital Eagles and The Second Half Foundation to help make churches hubs of the community on days not of worship.

THE NEW MASS MARKET EDITION OF THE SECOND HALF OF YOUR LIFE AVAILABLE NOW!

  The Second Half Foundation, Registered Charity Number 1141988  






The Second Half of Your Life, just released in mass market paperback on March 12th 2015 (Ebury £8.99) and in eBook (£3.99) inspires women to rethink what it means to grow older. The book has been heralded as ‘one of the most important women’s books for a decade’, ‘ground-breaking’, ‘inspirational’ and ‘the manual for women in the second half of their life’.

Based on the science of hormones, her extensive research and interviews, Jill Shaw Ruddock provides prescriptive advice on how to use the biological changes that occur around menopause to help make the second half of life the best half. Providing practical hands-on advice on how to harness the power of the oestrogen-free mind to make the most of new opportunities, Ruddock covers everything from money to the mind, dating to divorce, exercise to eating, and the libido to looking your best. 

All author’s  proceeds go to fund the work of The Second Half Foundation. ( Reg 1141988)


Click here to purchase The Second Half of Your Life book! All proceeds go to The Second Half of Your Life Foundation.

Click here to purchase The Second Half of Your Life e-book! All proceeds go to The Second Half of Your Life Foundation

Click here to watch a video about The Second Half of Your Life

 Click here to find out more about the Founder and Chairman of the Second Half Foundation, Centre and Author,  Jill Shaw Ruddock


“This is the self-help book for women to end all self-help books for women.” Melanie McDonagh, The Evening Standard
“The Second Half of Your Life is an important book for our age and now that this book has been brought to life in the creation of The Second Half Centre at St Charles is hugely exciting. Giving “second halfers” a place where both men and women over the age of 50 can learn and have fun will be a great addition to our neighbourhood.” Ruby Wax, Comedienne and Poster girl for Depression, Resident of The Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea
“One of the most important women’s books for a decade.” The Lady Magazine
“If anyone can persuade others that old is to be celebrated it is Jill Shaw Ruddock.” The Telegraph
“Ruddock has written a ground-breaking book called, The Second Half of Your Life. Hugely liberating, empowering and transforming.” The Sunday Independent
“The script for those fruitful years between 50 and 96 needed to be written”. Mail on Sunday

“Nora Ephron published I Feel Bad About My Neck, but the book The Second Half of Your Life, is not a memoir but a self help book aimed squarely at women like me whose ovaries no longer function. Hugely ambitious. We need a book like this” Mrs Moneypenny, Financial Times
“The Second Half of Your Life – part self help manual and part scientific treatise. She’s great on financial advice and inspiring on her unrelenting optimism on behalf of older women.” Alison Roberts, The Evening Standard
“I want to know what happens in the second phase of life, so I know how to live my life now. The Second Half of Your Life is the book that women of all ages need.”  Megha Mittal, Age 36, Chairman of Escada


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