Nominate someone in need of free physio sessions or Pilates classes with us
One of the questions I ask myself regularly is why I became a physiotherapist.
The answer has never really changed.
I want to help people feel better, move more, worry less about their aches and pains, and get back to doing the things they love.
Between us, Hannah, Alex and I have worked with thousands of patients throughout our physiotherapy careers in the NHS. It was an incredible place to learn, and we’re all proud of our NHS backgrounds. But we also saw first-hand how stretched the service is. There simply isn’t enough time or funding to provide everyone with the support they deserve.
That’s one of the reasons I started Animated Physio.
I wanted to create a place where people could receive high-quality, evidence-based care, where they were listened to, treated as individuals, and supported throughout their recovery.
The reality, though, is that private healthcare comes at a cost. Whilst many people are able to invest in their health, I also know there are plenty of people who would benefit from physiotherapy or Pilates but simply can’t afford it right now.
Coming from an NHS background, that’s something I’ve never been completely comfortable with. I don’t believe someone’s ability to access expert support should depend entirely on what they can afford.
Earlier this year, thanks to funding from Active Essex, we were able to run four “Strong Backs, Strong Minds” Pilates courses for people living with persistent back pain. It was incredibly rewarding to see participants grow in confidence, become stronger, move more freely and realise that pain doesn’t have to define them.
Now that the funding has come to an end, we’ve been thinking about how we can continue helping our local community.
So, from this month onwards, we’re changing that.
I’m incredibly proud to introduce Animated Physio’s Helping Hands.
I’ve created this community initiative to help local people access physiotherapy and Pilates with us when they otherwise might not be able to.
I hope this is something our whole community can be part of, because sometimes all it takes is one person noticing that someone else could do with a helping hand.
Every month, we’ll choose one Helping Hands Hero to receive support from us completely free of charge. We’ll alternate between:
- Up to six physiotherapy sessions (worth £300), helping someone overcome pain or recover from injury.
- Six months of our Core Plus Pilates Membership (worth £336), giving someone access to weekly studio Pilates alongside unlimited Zoom and on-demand classes to help them move well, build strength and confidence over time.
As you read this, someone may already have come to mind.
To keep the programme fair, you can’t nominate yourself, but we’d love you to nominate a friend, family member, neighbour or colleague who you feel would genuinely benefit from our support. Your nominee must be able to attend our studio in Billericay, Essex for their sessions.
Simply email us at [email protected] telling us:
- Who are you nominating (include their full name, email address & phone number so we can contact them if they’re selected)?
- How do you know them?
- Why are you nominating them?
- How do you think Helping Hands could make a difference to their life?
We’ll read every nomination carefully before choosing our Helping Hands Hero each month.
Our next Helping Hands Hero will receive six months of Core Plus Pilates membership with us, and nominations close on Sunday 30th August.
Our Core Plus membership will give this person 4 mat classes at our studio each month, plus unlimited access to our Zoom and on demand sessions throughout the 6 month period.
Before nominating someone, please make sure they’re happy for you to share their details with us. Include their name, phone number and email address so that if they’re selected, we can get in touch to arrange their treatment or membership. We want to be able to share the amazing stories of our Helping Hand Heroes, so please also check they will consent to their story and photo being shared on our social media, website, and to our mailing list.
Thank you, as always, for being part of our community. Your support allows us to continue doing what we love and, hopefully, help even more people along the way.