Partner Article

Paula Provides Serenity To Community

A local masseuse with a passion for alternative therapies has set up her own business with the aim of promoting health and wellbeing in her local community.

Paula Wood, 39, will use her 18 years experience as a Therapy Technician for the NHS to develop her new business, ‘Serenity Massage’, and provide each individual client with a service designed specifically for their needs.

Paula said: “Starting up my own business was always something I thought I’d love to do, but I was unsure on how I could make it work.

“I’ve always had an interest in alternative therapies, something I practiced throughout my time with the NHS, so this seemed like the perfect opportunity to give it a go.”

The Horden, County Durham, resident has already identified a niche in the market. Paula will be focusing on providing massages for nursing home residents, those who are pregnant and oncology patients.

The former public sector worker said: “I have already worked in elderly rehabilitation, paediatrics, emergency care and stroke rehabilitation, so I am accustomed to the needs of those in these areas.

“It is important to provide those who may not have been able to access services like mine the opportunity to do so, as I find it important to promote the health and wellbeing amongst everyone within the community.”

The masseuse has gained an NVQ Level 2 and Level 3 as well as a Foundation Degree in Health and Social Care as well as a qualification in massage therapy.

Hina Joshi, Paula’s Business Adviser at East Durham Business Service (EDBS) said: “Paula has a great enthusiasm for her business and I’m really pleased she came to us to help her start up. It can be a daunting process, but Paula is a great example of how you can achieve your goals and help yourself as well as the community.”

Along with EDBS, Paula received aid from the European Regional Development Fund.

The business support project is being part financed by the European Union’s ERDF Competitiveness Programme 2007-13, securing £1.07m ERDF investment. Working in a consortium led by North East Enterprise Agencies Ltd (NEEAL) local Enterprise and Development Agencies in the North East have matched this ERDF investment with £1.07m of their own funds.

The ERDF 2007-13 programme is bringing over £300m into North East England to support innovation, enterprise and business support. It will help create and safeguard 28,000 new jobs, start 3,000 new businesses and increase the region’s productivity by £1.1bn per annum.

Paula will be travelling around the region with her mobile massage therapy service, initially treating the elderly in residential and care-based settings. She will offer specific services for individuals following a stroke, who suffer from arthritis and individuals with dementia.

Paula said: “I am currently working alongside Langley House Nursing Home in Durham and I can already see the difference in the residents that use my services – even the men are enjoying the massages. It is often perceived as something only women would enjoy, but I’m now seeing an increase in male clients.”

Serenity Massage aims to provide a service that is accessible to all members of the community, no matter what the background.

Paula continued: “I’m promoting the fact that, whatever age you are and with whatever needs you have, lives can be improved through alternative therapy; be it a stress release for office workers or to ease muscle pains in the elderly. My services are vast and reflect the individual needs of the clients that I will work with.”

Another focus of Paula’s is her oncology massage services. It is something she has found to be rarely offered and Paula believes that it can be a way of helping those with cancer improve their wellbeing.

She said: “Treatments for cancer can be invasive for the patient so I would like to offer a massage therapy service to those who either have cancer or are recovering from it. I hope to work with support groups and help to provide a service that will ultimately promote health and happiness.”

With a long history in the health and social care system, Paula is looking forward to using her experience and providing a service that is accessible to all.

“I’ve set up this business not only to achieve my personal goal but to help the community. I have already seen a big difference with the clients I currently work with and I hope to continue this success amongst those I will work with in the future.”

For information on services from Serenity Massage, contact Paula on 07407601035.

If you would like help and advice on starting up your own business, contact EDBS on 0191 5863366.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Donna Hart .