We are delighted to be able to announce that we are now a Social Enterprise, not for profit organisation…
Our main aims are to continue to support our own award winning Registered Charity, the Odyssey Centre, and to help the local community & surrounding areas to unite the North & South Banks of the Humber
What is a Social Enterprise?
A social enterprise is a not for profit organisation who use their profits to tackle social & environmental needs… If the term ‘Social Enterprise’ doesn't ring any bells - how about Jamie Oliver’s restaurant Fifteen, The Big Issue or the fair-trade chocolate company Divine Chocolate?
What these businesses have in common is that we are about so much more than just making money and we are not driven by the need to maximise profit for shareholders & owners unlike so many others...
For our part we would love to see Barton upon Humber and the surrounding areas
blossom & grow, whilst continuing our journey to support cancer sufferers and their carers
The Odyssey Centre
The Beginning…. In 1982 our mum and grandmother died from a rare form of lung cancer resulting from her working in the munitions factory during the war. There was very limited access to the care and support that we needed and mum was nursed at home by ourselves and the district nurse.
After her death actions were taken to try to claim for compensation as this rare illness is being closely monitored by the government due to the amount of people affected by Asbestos. We were told that a claim could take years and that we “probably wouldn’t get very far”. Feeling angry and let down, we knew that something needed to be done from this personal experience.
The Centre…When we acquired the hotel in 1996 it was always our intention to provide a space where we could support cancer sufferers & their carers. In 1999 we bought Nightingale House & over the past 10 years we have helped & supported thousands of people.
From the beginning of our journey we have been mainly self-funded through the hotel. We do not charge for our services but are pleased to accept donations. We were the first centre of its kind in the area to use holistic & complimentary therapies and our clients are referred to us by medical professionals.
We won the award for the “Small Community Organisation of the Year” at the North Lincolnshire Council Leisure & Culture Awards 2009 so this is something else to be incredibly proud of.
To find out more please visit www.theodysseycentre.co.uk or visit our Facebook page.