“I grew up in a wheelchair, now I run a £3.5m health tech business”
Born with a rare muscle-weakening illness, Josh Hough was written off by doctors at an early age and grew up in a wheelchair. However, this fuelled his fire and today, he is the founder and CEO of Sussex-based home care software company CareLineLive, which produces revenues of over £3.5m and has 42 staff “I hated being disabled and was determined to get out of my wheelchair. I would hear the doctors telling my parents that I might not be able to have a job,” says Josh Hough, founder and CEO of Slinfold-based home care software company CareLineLive. “I think it made me very determined and single-minded. From an early age, I learned I could prove people wrong. Josh Hough was born with a rare genetic condition called Minicore Myopathy. It meant walking was difficult and he needed a lot of treatment. Also, going to school in a wheelchair was often an unpleasant experience. “It was just bloody bad luck. It’s a condition which you only get when both parents have a specific gene. I had a lot of specialist treatment when I was young. I went to school in a wheelchair which wasn’t nice as kids can be very cruel.” Nonetheless, Hough did well at school and considered university. But he was also entrepreneurial, setting up a publishing company with his sister Zoe when he was just 14. “I was more interested in business than in studying and had a desire to change things. I think I saw the world differently to a lot of people. I was often looking for new and different ways of doing things. You have to when you literally can’t do things in the same ways everyone else does,” he says. Indeed, when Josh was young, he was often exasperated by the inefficiencies of the healthcare system. “I was visited by countless nurses, doctors and healthcare professionals. “Every time I met someone new, I had to go through the same routine – answering the same questions, explaining my condition. It was very repetitive and boring. “Meanwhile, they were filling out paperwork or leafing through thick folders of information. It wasn’t very efficient and even as a young child, I was thinking: ‘this could be done better’.” In January 2010, when he was aged 18, Hough set up the MAS Group, providing managed IT services to companies. The company was doing well, but the idea of improving home care wouldn’t leave Hough. “My grandfather was receiving care and the family struggled with the lack of communication from carers. Everything I felt and saw as a child came flooding back. I just felt there needed to be a better system and, ultimately, that I had to be the one to create it.” Hough had a client in the home care space that was still using a paper-based system for much of its client work. It became CareLineLive’s first client and the idea of creating a ‘circle of care’ emerged. “We created an app that joins up everything in a home care business, from patient notes and visits to invoicing and staff rotas. Family members can access it so they know what’s going on. But also, critical healthcare professionals like ambulance drivers can access it, too. Because, if they are attending an emergency, they really need to know whether or not someone has had their medication that day. “The idea of the ‘circle of care’ is that everyone a patient needs is brought into the loop. People no longer need to spend long periods of time hunting down paperwork. All the information is in one place, it’s very efficient and it provides a clear audit trail.” CareLineLive was launched in 2018 with a mission to transform a sector lagging behind much of the digital world. There’s substantial demand for its services but business growth hasn’t been without challenges. Initially, Hough took out personal loans and used credit cards to get the business going. He’s gone through several funding rounds and, at the time of writing, has raised £6.7m. “Funding is an ongoing challenge, I spend a lot of time fundraising,” he says. Also, as a tech business, Hough is engaged in the battle for talent for much needed coders and software engineers. But Hough has created a culture and sense of mission among his team. Since launching commercially in 2018, CareLineLive has expanded rapidly, now supporting over 600 home care agencies across seven countries, including Australia and Ireland. Ultimately, Hough’s own experiences have shaped how he approaches business. “I’ve been through a lot of surgeries and challenges, so I understand the importance of flexibility,” he explains. “If a member of staff or their child needs to go to the doctors then I tell them to ‘just go’. People might think I’m too lenient, but we have a team that sticks with us and, sometimes, even returns, because they appreciate the flexibility and support we offer.” Reflecting on his journey, Hough says: “I’ve had to prove myself repeatedly – to investors, customers and employees. It’s a vicious cycle of needing experience but not being able to get it. But that’s been my driving force – proving people wrong and showing that something is achievable. Building CareLineLive is something I’m incredibly proud of.”
Accessibility Tips For Relatives With Mobility Needs This Christmas
Take The Stress Out Of Christmas With These Accessibility Tips For Relatives With Mobility Needs By Mike Lord, Stiltz Christmas is a time of joy and family togetherness, but for relatives with mobility challenges, the festive season can come with additional hurdles. Ensuring everyone feels included and comfortable in your home doesn’t have to be difficult – it’s about thoughtful planning and small adjustments to create an accessible and welcoming environment. Stiltz Homelifts understands the importance of making Christmas a time for every generation to be able to celebrate without barriers. Here are some practical ideas to help you host a festive gathering that prioritises safety, comfort, and inclusivity for loved ones with mobility needs. 1. Prepare Your Home for Accessibility Before your guests arrive, take a moment to evaluate your space. Simple adjustments can go a long way in making your home safer and easier to navigate for those with mobility challenges. Key Preparations: Taking these steps can help your nearest and dearest move around with ease and reduce the risk of accidents. 2. Plan for Comfortable Seating Your living room often becomes the heart of Christmas gatherings. Create a space where everyone, regardless of mobility, can sit comfortably and participate fully in the celebrations. Tips for Comfort: 3. Rethink the Dining Area A Christmas meal brings everyone together, but mobility limitations can make traditional dining arrangements tricky. Adjust the setup to avoid anyone being left feeling awkward, ensure the dining area is inclusive and comfortable for all. Making the Table Accessible: 4. Adapt for Overnight Stays If your loved ones are staying overnight, prioritising their comfort and safety will make their visit more enjoyable. Small changes to sleeping arrangements can make a big difference. Ideas for a Restful Stay: 5. Enhance Outdoor Accessibility Christmas isn’t limited to indoor activities—if your plans include time outdoors, make sure those spaces are just as accessible. Outdoor Safety Tips: 6. Make the Festivities Inclusive Mobility or cognitive issues can sometimes leave older relatives feeling sidelined during busy celebrations. Focus on activities that everyone can enjoy together, ensuring no one feels excluded. Inclusive Activity Ideas: 7. Discuss Needs in Advance Open communication can help you prepare effectively and avoid any last-minute stress or awkwardness. Ask your relatives about their preferences and specific requirements before they arrive. See if they would like additional help or are happy to manage on their own. Questions to Consider: 8. Invest in Long-Term Accessibility If you frequently host relatives with mobility needs, making permanent changes to your home could be a worthwhile investment. Features like ramps, stairlift or even better, a homelift, can transform your home into a more inclusive space. Stiltz specialises in homelifts designed to blend practicality with style. The lifts provide a safe and convenient way for relatives to navigate between floors, ensuring every corner of your home is accessible. 9. Prioritise Wellbeing Christmas can be exhausting for everyone and even more so for those with mobility challenges. Encourage your loved ones to rest when needed and adjust the pace of celebrations to ensure nobody is becoming weary , stressed or overwhelmed. Wellbeing Tips: Celebrate Together with Confidence Christmas is about cherishing the time spent with our nearest and dearest, and with a little forethought, your home can be welcoming and accessible for all. By focusing on comfort, safety, and inclusion, you’ll create an environment where everyone can relax and enjoy the festive magic. Whether it’s a small adjustment like clearing walkways or a larger investment like installing a homelift, these changes show your commitment to family and togetherness. Stiltz is here to help make your home a place where everyone can celebrate with confidence and joy. Let’s make this Christmas truly special for every member of the family. For more inspiration and mobility solutions, visit https://www.stiltz.co.uk/.
Low-impact sports to improve overall health
Staying active and fit is key to maintaining our health, vitality, and overall well-being as we age. However, it’s equally important to choose activities that minimise the risk of injury. In collaboration with Occupational Therapist Stuart Barrow, Stiltz Homelifts highlights low-impact sports that can enhance health while being gentle on the joints. Occupational Therapists frequently recommend these low-impact sports / activities to those looking to boost their overall fitness without placing undue stress on their joints. Such sports not only provide a variety of physical benefits but also support mental well-being, making them suitable for individuals of all ages and abilities. Among the best options are swimming, cycling, yoga, walking, and Tai Chi. Swimming Swimming is a gentle full-body workout that is easy on joints due to the buoyancy of water. Research shows swimming enhances cardiovascular health, builds muscle tone, and increases joint flexibility. A study by Bartels et al. (2016) found that there is moderate quality evidence that aquatic exercise may have small, short‐term, and clinically relevant effects on patient‐reported pain, disability, and quality of life in people with knee and hip osteoarthritis. Cycling Cycling, whether done on a stationary bike or outdoors, provides aerobic benefits while minimising weight-bearing stress on the body. Taylor et al. (2006) demonstrated that cycling enhances cardiovascular fitness and lowers the risk of chronic diseases, such as type 2 diabetes and hypertension. Walking Walking is an accessible and effective way to enhance cardiovascular health. A study by Murtagh et al. (2015) highlights that regular walking can improve blood pressure, cholesterol levels, and overall cardiovascular function, particularly in older adults. One of the most remarkable aspects of walking is that it’s completely free! You simply need to step outside your front door to start exercising. You don’t have to engage in power walking to experience the benefits; gentle walking can also be highly effective. Aside from the physical advantages, walking helps maintain stability on your feet and significantly boosts mental well-being, especially when enjoyed in a park surrounded by fresh air. Tai Chi Tai Chi is an ancient Chinese martial art that focuses on slow and controlled movements, which promote balance and mental clarity. Although it may seem like a gentle form of exercise, its benefits are significant and should not be underestimated. Research by Wang et al. (2010) indicates that Tai Chi can reduce the risk of falls, improve balance, and enhance mental health among older adults. Additionally, the fluid and rhythmic movements practised in Tai Chi contribute to better coordination, flexibility, and cardiovascular function. Yoga Yoga can be practised at any age, either alone or in a class setting, and it offers numerous benefits for both the body and mind. Yoga promotes strength, balance, and flexibility, making it ideal for overall health. Research suggests that it helps alleviate stress and chronic pain. According to Ross et al. (2010), yoga improves physical fitness and psychological well-being in adults. Additionally, yoga is incredibly soothing for mental well-being, helping to relieve feelings of stress and anxiety as you synchronise your movements with your breath.
Transport challenges for disabled people
The National Centre for Accessible Transport (ncat) unveils new database to highlight transport challenges for disabled people ncat has found that 92% of disabled people they spoke with face barriers when using at least one mode of transport, with inaccessible streets and pavements being the biggest obstacles in public spaces. Additionally, 77% of respondents said these barriers negatively affect their physical or mental well-being, and 75% reported feeling stressed when travelling. Today, ncat launches the Transport Barriers Database, an innovative open-source dashboard designed to inform industry professionals and policymakers. This searchable tool provides crucial evidence of the transport challenges disabled people face across the UK. The interactive dashboard showcases the transport experiences of 1,195 disabled people from the Community of Accessible Transport (CAT) panel. Users can search by categories such as access needs, impairment, transport modes, region, gender, and age. The database also includes 1,274 searchable comments from participants about their experiences. ncat’s recent Accessible Transport Summit emphasised that the voices and experiences of disabled people must be central to any meaningful research and improvements in transport accessibility. The database aims to amplify the experiences of disabled people to guide policy, funding decisions, and research priorities. The Accessible Transport Policy Commission was established to guide policy decisions and to be a bridge between ncat and policymakers. The Commission consists of a cross-party group from both Houses of Parliament. They are committed to eliminating transport barriers for disabled people across the UK. Over the past year, the Commission has engaged with national policymakers, including the former Secretary of State for Transport, Louise Haigh, and united local government leaders, around the Accessible Transport Charter. They have also highlighted good practices in co-production. Clive Gilbert, from the Accessible Transport Policy Commission, says: “2025 promises to be an important year for transport policy across the UK. The Accessible Transport Policy Commission looks forward to using the evidence gathered by ncat to ensure disabled people’s voices are heard in city halls, legislatures, and government offices across the country.” Further details on the barriers and their impact can be found in the ‘Understanding and Identifying Barriers to Accessing Transport’ and ‘The Barriers to Streetscape Access’reports. The findings from this research have informed the challenges set for our Scaling Innovation Funding Programme, which will fund pioneering solutions to enhance transport accessibility for disabled people. This launch coincides with the International Day of Persons with Disabilities 2024, aligning with the theme “Amplifying the leadership of persons with disabilities for an inclusive and sustainable future,” and underscores our commitment to empowering disabled people. If you are a disabled person or a transport professional, you can sign up for the CAT Panel to participate in research and help shape the future work of ncat.
Assistive and sensory technology charity Lifelites celebrates its 25th anniversary
Lifelites, A charity that provides assistive and sensory technology to every children’s hospice in the UK and Ireland is to mark its 25th year by launching a new £1.6 million campaign. Lifelites is embarking on an ambitious three-year programme to deliver new assistive technology packages and transformative grants to children’s palliative care services to reach more children and families. Whether its creating art using their eyes with the innovative Eyegaze, experiencing the immersive and exciting world of virtual reality or playing side by side with brothers and sisters on the Magic Carpet, the assistive and sensory technology empowers children to play, communicate with the people they love, explore the world around them and express themselves in ways that may otherwise be impossible. Every year, 13,500 children and young people access Lifelites technology. However, there are an estimated 99,000 children and young people who could benefit from Lifelites’ support. The charity has been a vital part of the children’s hospice services in Britain and Ireland after delivering its first technology package to Demelza Kent Children’s Hospice in September 1999. They passionately believe that every child and young person with a life-limiting condition or complex disability should be able to enjoy a childhood of inclusion, meaningful connection and fun. Under the Lifelites 25 project, the charity, will provide packages of technology worth up to £25,000 each to 21 new organisations they currently do not support, along with technical help and training. Lifelites is inviting applications from 4thNovember 2024 to 10th January 2025 and will fund seven projects per year for three years. They will also support four new transformational projects which harness the power of technology to improve the health and wellbeing of children and young people with life-limiting conditions. Each grant will be worth up to £250,000 and applicants must demonstrate direct and measurable positive outcomes for children, young people and their families. Stage 1 applications are invited until 10th January 2025. Both grants programme are open to regulated organisations or registered charities delivering services to children and young people with life-limiting conditions. Lifelites has welcomed celebrity chef, Jean-Christophe Novelli and wife Michelle, whose son Valentino is autistic, as Patrons of the charity. They said: “It’s amazing, to see the connection and happiness from children using the technology. “Our son Valentino is a big fan of the safari Pods Sensory Tent and the Magic Carpet. It’s so vital that youngsters get to play like other children and Lifelites makes that happen.” Rob Lightfoot, Chief Executive of Lifelites, said: “We are delighted to be working with Jean-Christophe and Michelle as Patrons of Lifelites, their family story illustrates some of the challenges faced by thousands of families across the country. “However, at the heart is the universal desire every parent has to enable their children to live the best lives that they can, to play together and to create cherished family memories. At Lifelites we are determined to increase access to our life-changing technology through Lifelites 25.” To apply see www.lifelites.org/lifelites-25
The FA Launches Ambitious New Strategy to Grow Disability Football
The Football Association (The FA) has announced an ambitious new four-year strategy for disability football in England, titled Football Without Limits, setting out plans to grow disability football participation by more than a third. This follows the announcement of The FA’s new 2024-28 strategy, ‘Inspiring Positive Change Through Football’, to take English football forward, with a clear focus on the biggest opportunities and challenges that need to be addressed. The new Football Without Limits strategy marks an important milestone in The FA’s ongoing commitment to drive positive change in para and disability football. To realise this vision, The FA has developed a comprehensive long-term plan focused on seven key pillars: One of the strategy’s key aims is to increase the number of players by more than a third across all Disability Football formats, reaching 28,300 registered disabled players by 2028. To help achieve this, The FA aim to provide further opportunities for disabled people to have access to local grassroots clubs tailored to their needs, including upscaling the new Comets programme. Comets is a new pan-disability programme by England Football for children aged 5-11 years old, providing a safe space for children to kick start their football journey. At present, there are around 150 registered Comets providers across England. Pan-disability football is the most inclusive format of the sport, bringing together players with a wide variety of disabilities and health conditions. Comets introduces a fresh, adaptable, and welcoming approach to the game, focusing on enjoyment, building friendships, and simply having fun. The FA has identified two key objectives to help the Comets programme grow: Mark Bullingham, FA Chief Executive, said: “This new four-year strategy sets out our long-term vision and commitment to grow disability football across England. We want to ensure that everyone has the choice and inspiration to play football regardless of age, background or ability. Our new strategy will increase participation opportunities, provide more support for coaches, and through our talent pathways, develop England Para teams for international success.” Catherine Gilby, Head of Para Performance at The FA said: “Our new landmark disability football strategy presents both the opportunity and responsibility to create meaningful change in this important area of our game. With the next phase of the four-year Football Without Limits strategy, we can nurture and grow key elements which support the growth of disability football, while giving children, participants and elite players the opportunity to reach their full potential. We believe this approach will help to drive world-class performances that can inspire the next generation of aspiring Para footballers to represent England on the world stage.” Louise Gear, Head of Development at The FA said: “We believe that people of all ages and abilities should have the chance to experience and enjoy football, and through pan-disability programmes like Comets, we are able to create those opportunities. We will be able to give children aged 5-11 the safe space and support to get involved and experience football tailored to their needs. It’s encouraging to see participation growing, and over the next four years, we plan to increase the number and variety of ways to play. We’re committed to helping schools and grassroots clubs strengthen their disability football offerings, both on and off the field, ensuring football is truly open to everyone.” To find out more information on local Comets sessions or how to become a Comets provider please visit: www.englandfootball.com/play/Disability-Football/Comets Further information our new Football Without Limits strategy for Disability Football, which is available for download in various accessible versions can be found at www.TheFA.com.
Disabled Entrepreneur Pulls on Purple Socks
Award-winning adaptive designer, disability advocate, speaker and writer Victoria Jenkins is spearheading a campaign to show support for disabled entrepreneurs – by wearing a pair of purple socks! The 38-year-old founder of the award-winning adaptable clothing brand Unhidden is backing this year’s Purple Sock Day on December 3 to mark International Day of Persons with Disabilities. She was one of the first to slip on the special edition sustainable bamboo socks, manufactured by BAM, that went on sale this week at https://bambooclothing.co.uk/purple-sock-day/. Victoria, recognised by Vogue in their 25 most influential Powerhouse Women and named second most influential disabled person in the UK by the Shaw Trust Disability Power 100 List, is encouraging everyone to raise awareness and money by ‘buying, wearing and sharing’ in support of national Purple Sock Day. Organised by the social enterprise Parallel Lifestyle, 40% of the profits from #PurpleSockDay will be donated to the British Association for Supported Employment (BASE) to help fund support for disabled entrepreneurs. The remaining profits will be used to support other entrepreneurship ventures in the UK and re-invested into growing Purple Sock Day and Parallel Windsor, a national celebration of disability inclusion and wellbeing. Disabled entrepreneurs currently account for an estimated 25% of the nation’s 5.5 million small businesses but represent only 8.6% of total small business turnover. Small Business Britain estimates suggest that creating equal opportunities could unlock an additional £230 billion for the UK economy. “There are significant challenges faced by disabled entrepreneurs in the UK, identifying inaccessible support services, poor access to finance, and the “burden of proof of disability” are key issues that need addressing,” said Victoria, a co-chair of the influential Lilac Review, an independent review on tackling the inequality faced by disabled founders and aiming to level-up entrepreneurial opportunity across the UK. “We want to be given equal access to opportunities, so we are free to be entrepreneurs and to grow our business to the best of our ambition and abilities.” Victoria, who became disabled in her mid-20s after an undiagnosed ulcer burst, has a variety of gastrointestinal and musculoskeletal conditions and symptoms from surgeries and complications of her conditions, wants every sock wearing person to help budding entrepreneurs start their businesses by supporting Purple Sock Day. “All we’re asking you is to buy and wear a pair of soft, sustainable bamboo socks manufactured by BAM and share by tagging #PurpleSockDay and you will help to raise positive awareness for disability inclusion,” said Victoria. “Sustainable style with social impact – what’s not to love. It’s a fun initiative with a serious message that you, your family, friends and work colleagues can get behind by pulling on a pair of purple socks.” For further information visit https://www.parallellifestyle.com/purple-sock-day or https://bambooclothing.co.uk/purple-sock-day
Diversity encouraged for the next series of The Great British Bake Off
Applications for the next series of THE GREAT BRITISH BAKE OFF are NOW OPEN! The Great British Bake Off is looking for the next batch of talented homebakers to enter the tent! Are you a star baker in the making and have a passion for baking? Have you ever wanted to lay your oven gloves on a place in the famous white tent? Are you fabulous with flavours? Wonderful with a whisk and inventive with ingredients? GBBO want the cast of bakers to represent the wonderful diversity of the Great British public and is passionate about seeing more under-represented communities on our television screens. The Bake Off tent can be adaptable to meet any individual’s accessibility requirements. DEADLINE FOR ALL APPLICATIONS IS MONDAY 9TH DECEMBER 2024 AT 1PM The Great British Bake Off is casting for series 16, and are looking for the next batch of bakers to represent the wonderful diversity of the British public! They want to encourage their casting outreach to find its way to people from under-represented communities. Series 15 was judged by Paul Hollywood alongside Prue Leith and presented by Noel Fielding with Alison Hammond returning for her second series. Applications are open to everyone although you must be 16 or over on the 1st of January 2025 and you must be a UK resident (including Isle of Man and Channel Islands). What does The Great British Bake Off look for in an applicant? A love and passion for baking is a must! It is good if you have a broader baking repertoire than just baking cakes. We all love cake, but on the show, there is a bread, biscuit, pastry week etc. Applicants don’t need to have knowledge or experience in making absolutely everything. There is always time to practice throughout the process, and lots of bakers who have appeared in the tent will say how much they learnt throughout the process in a supportive environment. Tips for filling out an application: Include as much information about you and your baking in the application as possible! This gives a sense of who you are and what type of baker you are as well as what you have made before. Make sure to include what makes you stand out from the crowd, and what you can bring to The Great British Bake Off tent! Include as many photos as you can, they are a fantastic way to show off the bakes you have made before. Accessibility in the application process: The application process can be adapted to meet the needs of individuals with accessibility requirements. For example, postal applications can be sent in different colours and fonts, or someone can fill out the application on your behalf. If any adaptions you feel would help, please feel free to let them know. There is a specific section in the application form where you can note any additional accessibility adaptions you may need during the interview process and in the tent. When is the deadline? The closing date for applications is 1 pm on Monday 9th December 2024. It is ok to spend a bit of time on your application, but it is encouraged that people don’t leave it until the last minute to submit their application. What’s next after applying? If an applicant has been successful to the next stage they will be contacted by a member of the casting team. If an applicant has not heard anything by Friday 14th February 2025, then unfortunately the application has not been successful on this occasion. Accessibility in the tent: It is important to mention that for anyone with a disability who is thinking of applying, and who may be concerned about the accessibility of the tent, the team at The Great British Bake Off would make any adaptations necessary to make it possible for them to take part. Past bakers: Over the years, there have been several disabled bakers rising to the top in the Bake Off tent, including the lovely Tasha Stones from series 14. The creative Marc Elliot and Liverpudlian Lizzie Acker, who made a fantastic SEN celebration cake in the tent. And also Briony Williams who came 4th in series 9 and has gone on to have a successful career in broadcasting since. Interested? Get in touch! For more information, contact us by emailing applyforbakeoff@loveproductions.co.uk or calling 0117 456 8530. Apply online: www.applyforbakeoff.co.uk
Paralysed Walsall father’s podcast brings hope and help to others
Tony Pearson, 57, a married father with three young adult daughters, has just gone live with a podcast to bring help and hope to others. Inspired by his own lifechanging injury, it’s called Fliqer – after the flicker of response that gave Tony a glimmer of hope during his rehabilitation sessions. The podcast aims to build a community where people can find resources, advice and support. Born out of the complete change of direction that Tony’s life has taken, it is channelling his new-found resilience and purpose after his own life changed following an accident in April 2022 at his home. “I collapsed at the top of the stairs and fell down headfirst, breaking my neck,” says Tony. “It was 10.30pm on a Friday night and I was taken to Walsall Manor hospital. I was then blue lighted on the Sunday to Royal Stoke Hospital where I underwent a seven-hour operation on my neck.” Fateful fall Tony was then put into an induced coma for three weeks but soon afterwards had two cardiac arrests and was resuscitated on both occasions. Tony’s spinal cord injury means he is a full-time wheelchair user and has limited use of his arms. When he was discharged from hospital on 23rd December 2022, he struggled due to a complete lack of specialist community rehabilitation services. He was given access to his local gym but as a new wheelchair user and still getting used to what he could and couldn’t do, Tony simply didn’t find this accessible or helpful. “I was astonished how poorly supported people with a spinal cord injury are once out of hospital,” says Tony. “There is just nothing available: you suddenly drop off the radar and are left to your own devices to find what you can for yourself.” Five-hour round trip for rehab Tony’s wife Janine set out to find some support for him and found the specialist neurorehabilitation charity Neurokinex. Problem was, the closest of its sites was 90 miles away in Bristol. Despite this, in November 2023 Tony visited Neurokinex and decided to try its induction programme in the New Year of 2024. From there he completed its 6-week intensive programme, attending three session per week each week. The five-hour round trip wasn’t easy but Tony says it was completely worth it as the Neurokinex Intensive Rehab programme brought him on massively. Setting goals and eating chips Together with his trainers, Tony set some goals and targets. “I wanted to regain simple skills like eating with a knife and fork and drinking out of a cup,” says Tony. These were tricky to master as Tony’s left hand was permanently in a fist and his right hand permanently open. But they persevered. One session was spent almost entirely on using stabbing movements with his arms and hands which Tony later found out to his delight enabled him to use a fork unaided. “It was lunchtime at Neurokinex and they sent out for chips which I was able to eat on my own. It was a delicious moment in more ways than one being able to manage without anyone’s help,” says Tony. Rare people It’s this personalisation and understanding that Tony values so greatly at Neurokinex. “Their approach is always bespoke to the individual’s needs and they design the programme around you,” says Tony. “Importantly, they truly listen to what you want and how you feel: we have a really great relationship and I find them hugely motivational and supportive without ever being condescending. It’s rare you get that in people.” Tony’s next goals are to keep progressing with his arm and hand movements, work on his cardio fitness and lose weight. Between sessions he works hard at home, spending two hours a day on his exercise bike and completing strength and mobility movements. Giving back A blessing for Tony was retaining his job post injury. As theco-founder and director of BJS home delivery company, covering the sales department, he works from home and offers support to colleagues by phone. As this isn’t full time, he has branched out to deliver motivational talks to businesses and charities. Giving people an insight into his new reality, he hopes to build their empathy and resilience. He often starts with a challenge asking people to sit on their hands for five minutes and not move for any reason. “You’ll get an itch but you can’t scratch it – that’s not allowed – for five whole minutes,” says Tony. “It seems interminable – but that’s been my life for the past two-and-a-half years! While it is a fun way of saying ‘welcome to my world’ there’s nothing fun living this reality. Yet it does help give people a glimpse into my life and is a real eye opener.” Starting with a Fliqer These talks led Tony to offer mental health coaching which, in turn, has led to him starting his podcast Fliqer. Sharing his story through the podcast gives people a different perspective and context on their own situation. Tony candidly says, “I am truly grateful for what I have: I didn’t know if I would even survive! Despite our challenges, we can all find a way to be a better version of ourselves, be it through weight loss, staring to exercise, stopping drinking or smoking. I help people find their ‘why’ to bring about change and encourage them to achieve it.” Tony is also truly grateful for Janine’s support. “Not everyone has a Janine in their life and I’m very fortunate that she has been at my side all the way. She found Neurokinex for me and she has worked tirelessly to help adapt our home and find gadgets to help me be more independent around the house. She wasn’t keen on driving but committed to taking me on those five-hour round trips for my rehab: I’d really be lost without her.” To tune into the podcast Fliqer … Visit Where there’s a Fliqer, there’s hope – Hosted by Tony Pearson (acast.com)