Story
TherapyAid
TherapyAid is an exciting new service serving the community of Norfolk. Our goal is provide a network of therapists throughout Norfolk giving massage, reflexology and other beneficial therapies free of charge to unpaid carers.
We are preparing for charitable status.
Why is this service needed for Carers?
Our experience, as therapists, has given us an insight into the tremendous job unpaid/informal carers do, under pressure, without thought to their own well-being and mental and emotional health.
Tracy's son is autistic, this is a two minute video. Thank you for speaking Tracey.
By giving the unpaid carers some one on one time to de-stress and rebalance, they will then be in a better position to care for their loved ones.
Carers save the NHS approximately £130 billion a year and Norfolk £1.6 billion a year , so let’s keep them going and put their wellbeing on the agenda.
The service from TherapyAid will be available to any unpaid carer supporting a Norfolk resident who is affected by a disability or long term health condition.
About us
Jackie Hamilton along with a number of her tutors and graduates make up the committee. The vision was formalised in April 2019. Community Action Norfolk are advising us on our organisational structure and helping us achieve charitable status.
Jackie Hamilton School of Therapies (JHST) has been training therapists since 2005, and we have a huge network of experienced professional complementary therapists throughout Norfolk to call upon to assist our work in TherapyAid. NB JHST trains adults in Massage, Reflexology, Sports Massage Therapy, Aromatherapy and Anatomy & Physiology. We are an accredited school and all our tutors are insured and belong to professional associations.
About the Therapists
All the therapists will be checked and trained within the National Occupational Standards (NOS) framework, hold current membership of a professional association and have current insurance. They will also hold a current first aid qualification and a current valid DBS certificate.
To measure the impact of its service to carers TherapyAid will use the Measure Yourself Concerns And Well-Being (MYCAW) tool. MYCAW is a validated tool which measures the effectiveness of services in delivering the outcomes that clients would like to see achieved using seven point scales. It does this through measuring perceived well-being together with clients’ primary and secondary concerns before and after treatment courses. The tool also creates qualitative data.
How will this work?
The informal carers may be referred to us by care groups we are have strong contacts with as well as care agencies; carers may also self-refer. Because of our flexibility of our therapists through the county, the carer may choose to be treated at home or in a nearby clinic – thereby making the most of any respite time they have. They will receive up to 5 treatments free of charge.
Your donations will help us to provide this vital service to our community
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This is a one minute clip of Sir Norman Lamb speaking at our mini conference on 18th May 2019, at our school (Jackie Hamilton School), about the value of what we are doing - and what a difference we can make: giving therapies to unpaid carers. He said
The service you can provide through TherapyAid for unpaid carers will make such a difference for people living in our county .
I've got enormous admiration for people who give of themselves totally, , unsung heroes - who don't shout about what they do but just get on with caring for their loved one. Often in quite difficult and trying circumstances.
What you can offer I think can be life changing, can in a way make life really worth living for people, so I strongly endorse what you are trying to do through this charity
