Chris Heaton-Harris

Chris Heaton-Harris

I was delighted when asked if I would share my thoughts about The Reach for Health Centre. As your local MP, I visit many different types of organisations and charities. All are really interesting and provide excellent services and help; occasionally, I come across one that is truly exceptional and benefits so many from our community. The Reach for Health Centre is one of those truly exceptional charities and it has been my pleasure to visit them over a number of years, watch them grow and witness how much they have achieved. The Reach for Health Centre is being used for referrals by most of our local GP’s and NHS hospitals as a specialist centre for rehabilitation for those who have experienced major health trauma. The Reach for Health Centre receives no monies from the NHS for the services provided; consequently, it is necessary to charge service users, albeit at subsidised rates. Despite the increased demands and helping an astonishing number of people from our local communities The Reach for Health Centre, has remarkably remained viable. 

For quite a while it has been obvious that the current premises are no longer suitable and too small to offer the space, equipment and range of services needed by the growing number of people who need the Charity’s help and support.

Happily, in response to this desperate need and in recognition of the benefits provided to local residents by The Reach for Health Centre, Daventry District Council have undertaken to provide a new purpose-designed building for the Charity, located at the Sports Ground on Western Avenue.

I can tell you that the Charity is enormously grateful to Daventry District Council and has ambitious plans to make full use of this wonderful new building. In order to do this, they obviously need to purchase additional and new specialist equipment for the rehabilitation area, as well as furniture and equipment for the new treatment rooms and social area. You may not be aware that the charity has always paid rent and rates and will continue to do so in the new premises, and with its other running costs, outside help will be needed in order to provide the best possible facility.

The Reach for Health Centre is one of the most valuable organisations in our community, and has my support in helping to achieve the future aims in any way that I am able to, but the Charity needs more than that. Financial support is, and will be, essential from all who are interested, willing and able to offer their support, whether private individuals, commercial organisations or charitable trusts. What the Reach for Health Centre is aiming to achieve initially will cost around £120,000 and when you consider the large number of people they are helping locally and what I know they can do for many more people in the future, it’s a target well worth aiming for.

The outstanding services that The Reach for Health Centre provides in improving the health and wellbeing of so many local people, my constituents, who have suffered a major health trauma or are living with a long-term or life-long illness are invaluable and my fear is what they contribute to the local health economy is grossly undervalued. None of us know what we may have to face in the future, but with our support we can ensure that, should we need it, this wonderful Centre will be there to embrace us.

If you would like to help, please get in touch with any of their hard-working trustees at the Centre.

Thank you.

Yours,
Chris Heaton-Harris MP

 

Rob Juson – Chair of Trustees

Rob Juson – Chair of Trustees

As Chair of Trustees of this remarkable charity I am frequently asked the question, “what makes The Reach for Health Centre so successful?” It is probably the easiest question for me to answer because it is the one thing that all of our Trustees are most proud of, “our coaching team.” I spend a lot of my time at the centre and over the years have witnessed the substantial improvements the team have made to the lives of many hundreds of people using a combination of patience, encouragement and skill. I have also learned not to underestimate their ability and focused determination to achieve the best possible outcomes, often way beyond expectations. The coaching team have devised a method of working as individuals and teams to derive the best possible results for those that attend the centre in need of health rehabilitation. They each have individual areas of responsibility that are designed to dovetail and encourage communication and support from each other. Wadge Grzelak is our centre director and mentor to every member of our coaching team.  He has substantial experience in physical and mental health rehabilitation, as well as being ‘hands on’ he puts this wealth of knowledge to good use in guiding the team to continually improve our services and outcomes. Wadge also leads all aspects of the partnership we have with the University of Northampton. Dan Miller is our centre manager, a chartered physiotherapist and placement supervisor for University of Northampton Occupational Therapy students.  Dan is also involved in a major research project being conducted jointly by The Reach for Health Centre and The University of Northampton. Karen Miller is our Cancer Rehabilitation lead, she is a coach very experienced in physical and mental health rehabilitation and tailors programs for both pre and post surgery. Maisy Radford is our DNAfit lead, a new service enabling fitness and nutrition to be specifically tailored to an individual’s genetic makeup. Maisy is also a placement supervisor for UoN Occupational Therapy students and involved in the joint research project. Harriet Crossley is our medical referrals lead, ensuring that all NHS referrals are seen by the coach best suited to their individual needs. Harriet is also responsible for organising the staff rota and keeps everyone in line! Connor Morris is our falls prevention lead and will be taking on the responsibility for the new initiative to be launched late Summer/early Autumn 2020, ‘AHA’ – Active Healthy Ageing.  A tailored program designed for the more mature who are reasonably fit, active and healthy to stay that way for as long as possible.
Remarkable people, forming a remarkable team, achieving remarkable things in health rehabilitation.
Over 95% of our users are now referred to us by their GP’s, NHS Hospital doctors and consultants or other Health Professionals.  We are currently receiving in the region of 500 new NHS referrals per year.  Despite the fact that we are recognised so strongly by the NHS we receive no income from them or any other governmental organisation.    Our current sources of income are derived from a small monthly charge to users, that equates to an average of £2.40 per visit, local fundraising carried out by our staff, volunteers, members and trustees and occasional grants that are invariably used to purchase new equipment. If you or your organisation wish to be associated with this amazing charity please contact me to discuss how you can help or for any further information that you may require. We would be very pleased to hear from any potential commercial sponsors.