Kettering complementary therapists join in health and wellbeing festival

A high street pop-up one-stop shop for advice and help is proving to be a big hit as the first Kettering Health and Wellbeing festival week continues.

The family-friendly festival, with free information events, activities and advice, has returned for a third year to help residents with their lifestyles with the majority online.

But community wellbeing experts and organisations from across Kettering have been brought together for face-to-face sessions in the Gold Street hub of Kettering Complementary Therapy Group (KCTG).

Residents have been able to access ideas, information, advice and activities to help benefit their lifestyle, and find support in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Barb Lewis from KCTG said: "We are an independent group of therapists and others interested in maintaining a healthy lifestyle and encouraging understanding of complementary therapies and how these can benefit health and well being organised by hub volunteers.

"Bringing health awareness to the high street is our vision anyone is welcome to call in just to look around and chat we are here offering lifestyle advice, information on management, prevention and signposting to support advice and help."

During the Kettering Health and Wellbeing festival week (June 14 to 20) KCTG has information stalls with ASD and autism spectrum disorder support groups Enfold and High 5 offering help to families, Age UK, Mind, Slimming World, Northamptonshire Health Care, NHFT school nurse healthy lifestyle advisor and Public Health Northamptonshire's supporting independent living team.

Open from Monday to Saturday, 10.30am to 4pm at 33 Gold Street, members of the public can pop in for free information and the opportunity to talk to members of a range of groups offering support.

Barb said: "Everyday we are offering taster sessions of a range of complementary therapies including reflexology, Indian head massage, Reiki, back massage, angel card readings, and cranio-sacral therapy."

People can book in or pop-in for meditation and chair yoga sessions, Indian head massage workshops and talks on menopause with aromatherapy, and crystal therapy also on offer.

Chris Davison, public governor for Northamptonshire Healthcare NHS, said: "This is about local support for local people. It's about voluntary groups working with statutory providers to help with prevention, early intervention and sign posting.

"People are looking for advocacy. People who are not able to get health care we're bringing health care to the high street. By having the shop here we can reach those who are socially isolated. Social isolation is as bad for you as smoking 15 cigarettes a day."

The pop-up shop will be in residence until the end of June, with a programme of events taking place for the festival carrying on until Sunday, June 20.

Chris Dickinson from KCTG said: "It has been quite steady with people who have issues. People have needed advice on housing and we have been able to signpost them. People who have problems with communication can't do that on the phone or online, face-to-face is much easier."

Stalls stocked with information from different agencies have been made available with representatives popping in to chat to shoppers.

Marian Pell from Age UK said: "We have had quite a few interested in our services and we have handing out a survey to find out if there's anything different that they may benefit from. You can pick one up and send it back."

Kettering Health and Wellbeing festival week continues until Sunday June 20. For information and timetable click here .

For more information about Kettering Complementary Therapies Group click here or visit the Health and Well Being Information Hub in Gold Street Kettering. Or contact Barb Lewis on 07748591065 or email [email protected] and Chris Dickinson on 07791580218 or email [email protected] to book a taster session.