A University of Worcester graduate is giving back to the community by offering free physiotherapy sessions in Warndon, thanks to support from a local housing association.
Oliver Nightingale, who graduated in Physiotherapy at the University of Worcester last year, now holds twice-weekly sessions at the Oasis Community Hub in Warndon, funded by the Oasis Hub and Platform Housing Community Chest.
He said: “Physiotherapy is a vital resource, but it can be difficult to access. The way services are set up means there can be barriers for patients getting the support they need, so I wanted to do this as a way of bringing this help to people in the areas they live in.”
He continued: “At university I built networks and made connections, and I had always had the dream of starting a company that helped people access this kind of help. When I graduated, I set up Health Valued, my organisation where we make those connections happen.”
He said: “We hold it at the Oasis Warndon Hub, which is an incredible resource for this area and it has such a good community connection. I studied alongside the manager, Hannah, and we got chatting about how we could get a project like this off the ground; and now we’re doing it.”
Oliver also works part-time for the NHS and runs exercise and education sessions at care homes in the region.
The funding for his physiotherapy sessions at the hub in Warndon is secured until Christmas, and it’s hoped he’ll be able to secure more financing to provide the sessions at other locations around the city.
Oliver said: “We invite people in for an initial assessment, we talk to them about their problems and discuss the treatments they’ve had in the past, and we work with them to improve their health.”
He continued: “I’m a registered professional with the Health and Care Professions Council, and I’m also registered with the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy and I’m keen to promote and provide true community centred holistic care.”
Anyone who wishes to book a session with Oliver or discuss what’s on offer can email oliver.nightingale@healthvalued.org call 07840 295 170, or simply drop into the Oasis Community Hub, Warndon.
For information on courses at the University of Worcester visit www.worcester.ac.uk or for application enquiries, telephone 01905 855111 or email admissions@worc.ac.uk