Local business owner has taken an ethical approach to launching his company, helping to raise around £250 in his first few months of trading.
John-Wayne Hughes from AdvanceSRM, who specialises in clinical soft tissue and remedial massage, decided he wanted to run a different kind of business. From the very start of his venture based in Horndean, he has committed to supporting charities, both directly and by working with other local corporate supporters.
Through charity massage sessions, he has raised around £250 for three charities, Whizz-Kidz, Naomi House and Breast Cancer Now. Donating his time to help corporates fund-raise, such as The Southern Co-operative and Bouygues UK, or directly supporting charities at community events such as Naomi House at the Great South Run, John has a passion for helping people, which is one of the reasons he started working in massage therapy. First discovering massage whilst living in Japan, through a technique known as Seitai and as a teacher of the martial art of Aikido, he regularly used massage as part of his recovery from training. This interest in physical well-being meant a change of career, from teaching children with special needs to dedicating his time to helping people relieve pain and get back to health, was the right move for him.
After studying with the London School of Sports Massage at Southampton University and gaining a level 5 qualification in Clinical Sports and Remedial Massage, John set about growing his business in an ethical way.
‘Why should support for the community be limited to larger businesses?’ says John, ‘if everyone helps one another in society, however little this might be, collectively it can add up to a lot of support for those who need it’. He is now promising to deliver at least one charitable activity per month to provide ongoing support to the surrounding community.
Corporate fund-raiser and Communications Manager, Claire Mayne from Langstone Technology Park said: "John's support for the Wear It Pink event at Langstone helped us smash our target and raise over £450. Feedback from the day was so positive that we decided to offer John the opportunity of a regular on-site clinic. People lead extremely busy lives, so having a workplace therapist is a real to boost to employee well-being; and gives occupational health an additional service when discussing absence management and return to work plans with business leaders."
If you are a local business and want to speak to John about corporate fund-raising or employee well being through on-site massage clinics, contact him on 07576 322879 or by visiting www.advancesrm.co.uk