Another investment from Resonance’s South West SITR Fund is at the forefront of pioneering effective and affordable healthcare alternatives. £100,000 of investment has been deployed to the National Centre for Integrative Medicine (NCIM), bringing a broader vision of healthcare to the South West.
When she was seven, Dr Elizabeth Thompson wrote in her diary that she wanted to be a nurse or a doctor. Did she imagine, after working in the NHS for over thirty years, that she would end up running a social enterprise in Integrative Medicine? Probably not, but as CEO of NCIM, she has big ambitions to support a transformation of healthcare to a broader model where conventional, lifestyle and holistic approaches are brought together to support health and wellbeing.
Much more than an ordinary medical centre, NCIM has now worked with over 2,000 people on their healthcare journey. This inspiring social enterprise provides a diverse and comprehensive range of opportunities, such as a Diploma in Integrative Medicine, nourishing nutrition courses, and mindfulness courses for those tackling a cancer diagnosis.
There are huge benefits to organisations like NCIM, which reduce the burden on the NHS and minimises health inequalities in disadvantaged communities. £100,000 of investment from Resonance’s South West SITR Fund will help NCIM to do this, along with building the team and enhancing their education and teaching administration.
On a more practical level, the investment will unlock the potential for marketing, to scale the business and its increasing impact. “NCIM is delighted that Resonance has chosen to invest in our organisation,” Elizabeth says. “Investment from Resonance has come at a crucial time when we are expanding and need to increase our workforce to make the most of emerging opportunities.”
NCIM’s Holistic Doctor service supports collaborative consulting, giving people time with an experienced medical doctor focused on whole-person care, which is refreshingly different from a typical trip to the doctors. And they are starting fundraising to offer low-cost options, minimising financial pressure, so patients can focus on self-care.
“We can now advertise for a range of new posts, including a Marketing Lead to help us get the word out there about what NCIM is trying to do,” explains Elizabeth. “In coming months, we will be working with Heart Research UK and Subway to help people make sustainable changes in the way they shop, cook and eat to improve health and wellbeing. So, a big thank-you to Resonance and their team who has supported the process, and really seem to care about what we are trying to do.”
Resonance’s investment will help to magnify NCIM’s impact and create a lasting impression in real lives. Katalin Juhász, Investment Manager at Resonance, says, “It’s great to start 2020 supporting another amazing female-led social enterprise as the 16th investment from the South West SITR Fund. This investment is the result of a long and constructive relationship and I’m really pleased to be able to support NCIM at this stage of their journey. I’m looking forward to all their wonderful developments as they grow and impact the lives of many, especially those living with a long-term condition and without the means to afford help.”
With plans to expand outside of Bristol, and adapt integrative healthcare into mainstream services, it’s clear that this social enterprise is on the forefront of a new and exciting shift in the world of healthcare.
For more information about our SITR Funds click here.
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Resonance Limited is a company registered in England and Wales no. 04418625
Resonance Impact Investment Limited, a subsidiary of Resonance Limited, is authorized and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA). Firm number 588462.
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