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Regional updates

32 | International Therapist Issue 82 | May/June 2008

Local support grouThe LSG

speaker poolWe have seen the local support group numbers steadily grow and with more than 75 LSGs spread around the country, FHT now has the largest number of local groups of any therapy association.

The groups have done an excellent job in fi nding speakers for their meetings and we wanted to share this wonderful pool of knowledge around the UK. To this end we have now set up

a speaker pool list where we record the names of speakers, along with their contact details, on a central register or ‘speaker pool’.

In addition, we record details of the topic(s) they talk about, how far they are prepared to travel, along with other useful information.

All our local support group coordinators have a form that needs to be fi lled in by themselves and the speaker, and then submitted to Denise Gough at head offi ce for inclusion in the centrally-held database. This information is then made available to co-ordinators to view and select any speakers they feel their group will appreciate hearing from.

If you are a speaker and believe you have something exciting to share with members then fi nd out where your local support group is and arrange to go along. During the evening get to talk to the coordinator and volunteer your services and see if you can get onto the speakers list. It is amazing how many people’s speaking careers the local groups have launched.

Meet the coordinators

Jon Critoph, FHT Education Development Manager

Bournemouth LSG up and runningI was inspired to set up the Bournemouth LSG after a discussion with my business mentor, during which I was complaining about how isolating it can be as a therapist, writes Teresa Rich, coordinator of Bournemouth LSG.

My fi rst step was to contact existing LSG coordinators to fi nd out what the implications were in setting up a group and

I was offered some sound advice about what to do and what not to do. I then contacted Denise Gough at FHT for an application form. Once

that was completed I had an informal chat with Jon Critoph to discuss my reasons for setting up a group. When I then realised how valuable a local

Hannah Rosborough – East Manchester After eight years working within the recruitment industry, Hannah decided the time was right for a complete change of career direction. A personal interest

in health and fi tness, combined with a lifetime of food allergies, led her to initially undertake a course in clinical nutrition. This course helped to develop her understanding of human anatomy and physiology and she became increasingly interested in how the body works.

While studying human anatomy, she suffered a sports injury and the required treatment opened up her mind to the healing powers of massage therapy. Two years later she became a fully-qualifi ed sports and remedial massage therapist and has not looked back since.

She is now working full-time within a therapy centre, splitting her time between seeing clients,

managing the staff and marketing. Hannah loves the constant challenge and sense of achievement that comes from working as a therapist and wants to immerse herself fully in everything the complementary therapy industry has to offer.

Rhyanne Nixon – South Powys Some years ago Rhyanne had the opportunity to move with her family to the picturesque region of the Brecon Beacons. They immediately began a huge

renovation project on their historic Georgian home and during this time she qualifi ed as a holistic therapist. This enabled her to fulfi l the dream of owning her own holistic centre where she can offer a range of therapeutic treatments to clients of all ages. Rhyanne says she likes to feel pampered and made to feel special, so it is

of the utmost importance to her that her clients will benefi t in the same way.

Shirley Selby – Peterborough Shirley Selby has recently taken over as coordinator for the Peterborough LSG and looks forward to meeting many FHT members in this new role. Shirley works

from her therapy room at home as well as being a corporate therapist for the John Lewis Partnership, in Peterborough.

She practises aromatherapy, sports massage, refl exology and thermal auricular therapy. Shirley has learned the benefi ts of using the hands-free massage technique. Shirley says: ‘Many therapists would have to discontinue working with massage through strain to their own bodies, but hands-free massage allows them to prolong their careers in massage.’

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Regional updates

International Therapist | 33Issue 82 | May/June 2008

oupsGroup contact list ❋ This month’s featured coordinators

Alloa (Clacks LSG) – Marianne Simpson• T: 01259 212322 • E: mazjsimpson@hotmail.co.ukArmagh – Paula McGleenan • T: 02837 511086Banbury & Oxfordshire – Marianne Allitt • T: 01295 269376 • E: heavenscent.co@btinternet.com Bath – Elizabeth Griffi n • T: 01225 315591 • E: minervacentrebath@hotmail.com Belfast, Northern Ireland – Kathy Green• T: 028 9029 5960 • E: kathy.green@therapiesinc.co.uk Birmingham – Nick Cooke • T: 0121 444 1110 • E: info@cecch.com. Blackpool – Ana Grewal• T: 01253 356602 • E: apaulabf@hotmail.com Bournemouth – Teresa Rich• T: 01202 295910 • E: richteresa@hotmail.com Bridlington – Jaine Stevenson• T: 01262 601786 • E: thevillabridlington@fsmail.net Bridport – Shirley Stanford • T: 01297 561113 • E: Shirley@sclub69.fsnet.co.ukBristol – Bridget Tyrrell• T: 0117 907 5884 • E: bridget@osna.co.uk. Cardiff – Rowan Thomas• T: 07731 632697 • E: rowanholistics@gmail.com Carlisle – Philippa Lawlor• T: 01228 712000 • E: lawlorp@btconnect.com Central South East Kent – Angie & Rod Twydall • T: 01303 844 373 • E: angietwydall@hotmail.com Central, SW London – Callie Carling• T: 020 8123 3790 • E: fht_swlondon@yahoo.co.uk Coalville, Leics – Carly Jevon• T: 01530 815971 • E: cjevon@hotmail.co.uk County Durham – Christine Fisk• T: 01388 451886 • E: info@ethos.uk.comDonaghadee, Northern Ireland – Lin Hudson • T: 02891 889688 • E: Lin@navahoholisticcentre.com Dorking – Sally Flaxman• T: 01306 713615 • E: sally@fl axmanp.freeserve.co.ukDudley – Marie Avey• T: 01384 568285 • E: aromarie78@yahoo.co.uk.

❋ East Manchester (Mossley) – Hannah Rosborough • T: 01457 835491 • E: hannah@bmtcentre.co.ukEastbourne & South Downs – Sara Macdonald • T: 07787 575119 • E: macd.sara@virgin.net Elgin, Morayshire – Sandy Combe• T: 01343 850087 • E: sandy@combe60.fsnet.co.uk Ely, Cambs – Rowena Pleasance• T: 01353 777275 • E: pleasance@aplion51.wanadoo.co.uk Glasgow, Holistics Ecosse – Margaret Mather • T: 01698 844477 • E: makima@blueyonder.co.uk Glasgow South – Pauline Reid • T: 0141 4221333 • E: the_hearth72@hotmail.com Grimsby – Janice Fell• T: 01472 823198 • E: affi rmationqueen@hotmail.co.uk Hastings, St Leonards & Rother – James Harrison • T: 07927 723730 • E: hslr.therapists@googlemail.com Hereford – Jon Critoph • T: 01568 770156 • E: jon@critophj.freeserve.co.uk Hertfordshire – Christine Halls • T: 01438 233302 • E: christinehalls@btinternet.com Hull & East Riding – Elizabeth Lambert• T: 01482 504082 • E: elizabeth_micht@yahoo.co.uk Irlam, North West – Rosemary Hawes• T: 0161 211 6889 • E: complementarytherapies@ntlworld.comIrvine, Ayrshire – Albert Gamage • T: 07910 111832Kingsbridge, Devon – Donna McCheyne• T: 01548 844855 • E: donna@donnamccheyne.com Lincoln – Mags Brown • T: 01673 857488 • E: mags@holistictherapy.org.uk Liverpool/Cheshire – Moira Smith• T: 0151 426 9044 • E: moifran46@yahoo.co.uk

Marlborough – Jean Burgess• T: 07754 895397 • E: poppyburgess@tiscali.co.uk Mid Anglia – Rebecca Oakley• T: 0870 300 6109 • E: rebecca.oakley@benditlikebecky.biz Milton Keynes – Liz Illing• T: 01280 821822 • E: mkfht@fsmail.net Newcastle – Roz Cusack• T: 0191 240 1321 • E: rozcusack@btinternet.com Northampton – Diana O’Neill• T: 01604 882143 • E: di@healwithin.org North Shropshire and Wrekin – Roger Dutton • T: 01630 661479North Staffs – Ann Beirne• T: 01782 866003 • E: ann@mbeirne.freeserve.co.ukNorth Somerset – Vivien Taylor• T: 01934 824809 • E: vivien.taylor@fsmail.net Nottingham – Jacky Huson• T: 01636 815739 • E: jacky@touch-therapy.co.uk Oxfordshire – Tina Reid• T: 01865 778833 • E: info@oxfordholistics.com

❋ Peterborough – Shirley Selby• T: 01733 270353 • E: shirley.selby@virgin.net Prestatyn – Linda Burston• T: 01745 889772 • E: linda.burston@btinternet.com Saltash, Cornwall – Jane Tripp • T: 01752 851001Sheffi eld – Heather Wilson • T: 0114 263 0759Somerset & Wilts – Catherine Kay• T: 01373 461696 • E: spinaltouch@hotmail.com South Bucks – Heather Lawson• T: 01494 891005 • E: heatherrlawson@hotmail.co.uk South Cheshire – Jean Toyn• T: 01829 730739 • E: Toynj@aol.com South East Essex – Glynis Howard • T: 01375 400208 • E: southeastessexlocalsupportgroup@hotmail.co.uk Southampton, Hants – Sandy Wright• T: 02380 736341 • E: sandywright@tiscali.co.ukSouth Gloucester – Judith Ryder• T: 01454 773760 • E: sgfht@zest4life.org.uk South Lincs – Niki Tonsager• T: 01529 240687 • E: nicola@angel-garden.co.uk

❋ South Powys – Rhyanne Nixon• T: 01874 636718 • E: info@rhyannesretreat.co.ukSouth West CABS (Teignmouth) – Heather Graham • T: 01626 772648 • E: hgrefl ex@hotmail.com Stourbridge & Stourton – Sheila Davies• T: 01384 373058 • E: sheila@wrapz1.co.ukStratford-Upon-Avon – Mark West• T: 0845 2625242 • E: octagontherapycentre.co.uk Suffolk Source – Brenda Ling• T: 07979 817770 • E: brenda@ling45.fsnet.co.uk Surrey & North Hants – Lisa Ratcliffe• T: 07766 335992 • E: LCRC19@aol.com. Swadlincote, Derbyshire – Anne Huckerby • T: 07985 421334 • E: andrewhuckerby@iosh.wanadooco.uk Swansea – Bridgette Philpott • T: 01792 512294 • E: info@zodiactherapytraining.co.uk Taunton – Sue Wheeler • T: 01823 430428 • E: suecwheeler@hotmail.comTutbury, Burton-on-Trent (Harmonies) – Hilary Ramshaw • T: 01283 815398 • E: hilary@ramshaw.freeserve.co.uk Wakefi eld – Louise Dawson• T: 0113 238 3177 • E: mysweetlouise@btinternet.com Waterlooville, Hants – Viv Tavener• T: 02392 790531 • E: vivientavener@hotmail.com. West Norfolk – Barbara Smith• T: 01760 724170 • E: barbara.smith58@yahoo.co.uk Wigan & Leigh – Jack Speight • T: 07977 262022Worcestershire – Pauline Hulston• T: 01527 454769 • E: phulston@blueyonder.co.uk Worthing – Lesty Miles• T: 07832 105969 • E: lestymiles@yahoo.co.uk Wrexham, Rhos – Eike-Renate Thomas• T: 01978 843219 • E: eike.home@btinternet.com

support group could be, I was off!I felt a mixture of fear and excitement

as I set out a three-month plan of action for launching the group in January. The preliminary stages involved setting up a business account and fi nding a venue with ample parking, easy access and most importantly, a good coffee area!

The fi rst venues I looked at were all hotels, but they were too expensive. I then found a room where I teach in Bournemouth that was unbelievable value. The premises were new and modern, with excellent parking – and yes, it had a great coffee shop. My heart knew I had arrived at the perfect venue to hold our meetings.

The welcome letter from FHT went out to all members in the area and emails and phone calls started fl ooding in, with positive feedback from everyone.

The fi rst meeting went really well. The topic covered was goal setting (very apt for January) and we discussed what we wanted from the meetings in Bournemouth. All I did was facilitate the evening and lead a talk on goal setting. Minutes went out within the next couple of days and I started booking speakers for forthcoming meetings.

By the second meeting there was a core of people who attended and were very supportive, and there was an undercurrent of loyal members developing.

Two people offered to help me by being treasurer and secretary, and so a committee group was formed.

It has been an incredible learning experience for me, and I’ve really enjoyed planning and organising the meetings. But, most of all I have enjoyed the company of other therapists. The group is still in its infancy but I’m sure it will continue to grow and develop its own personality.

The Bournemouth LSG already has a number of

loyal members

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