CHARITY
In at the deep end
The Fire Fighters Charity’s Head of Marketing and
Engagement, Tim Beynon, joins beneficiaries for a
day on the programme at Jubilee House.
It was shortly after scanning
the programme of activities for
the day ahead that I began to
regret opting for the Full English
that morning. I would be joining
a group of nine beneficiaries
for a day at Jubilee House – the
charity’s state of the art centre
in the heart of the Lake District –
complete with informative talks,
outdoor activities, pool, gym and
hydro sessions, and, by the time it
arrived, a very welcome half hour
of relaxation.
A new recruit to the charity, I
was only in my second month as
part of the Basingstoke-based
Marketing and Engagement team
when the opportunity arose to visit
our Cumbrian base. Keen to see
at first-hand how the charity works
and who we work with, I soon
found myself motoring up the
M6 and into the snow covered
mountains of the Lake District.
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Situated in the picturesque village
of Eamont Bridge, a stone’s throw
from the market town of Penrith,
Jubilee House is a purpose built
rehabilitation and recuperation
centre within 10-acres of grounds.
Boasting a fully equipped
gym and sports hall, an indoor
swimming pool, hydrotherapy
pool and a host of other
impressive facilities and teams
– including dedicated nursing
and psychological therapy
teams – Jubilee House welcomes
beneficiaries from across the fire
and rescue community, as well as
the occasional anxious marketing
type.
Offering four, seven and 10 day
programme options, I joined
a mixed group who, like me,
were starting out on their Jubilee
experience. Assembling in a cosy
conference room, safely away
from the sub-zero temperatures
outside, the day began with a talk
on expectations. Physiotherapist
Simon Savage, encouraged my
fellow beneficiaries to discuss their
expectations for the programme,
explaining how the staff team
would be available to help and
support them, while keeping feet
on the ground in terms of any
miracle cure expectations. I fully
expected, meanwhile, to be
hugely impressed by the work of
the team and humbled by the
bravery and determination of my
fellow beneficiaries, and to see
my breakfast again when I hit the
treadmill.
Next up, however, it was
back outside and into those
aforementioned sub-zero
temperatures for a 2.5 mile walk
around the local area. My fellow
walkers – all active or retired
firefighters – covered a wide age
range, as well as an impressive
array of injuries, ailments and
post-operative aches; with