From Vision to Reality: One Year of Empowering Lives

To begin, we just need to step back a little further:

Finding Purpose Through Adversity

In March 2021, my world turned upside down. Working as a Special Education Needs teaching assistant, I suddenly collapsed at work, leading to months of being housebound, unable to care for myself or my children. It was a long road to recovery—visual rehab, CBT, and exposure therapy—but with the help of loved ones, I fought to regain my independence.

After 2 ½ years, I was mostly recovered but knew that stress could still set me back. Wanting to ease into work again, I explored roles in care, where my compassion and people skills could make an impact. It all started with a simple request—a former client’s family member asked if I’d be a companion for a wonderful woman with Parkinson’s. Supporting her through daily tasks, walks, and appointments, I saw first-hand how companionship could transform lives.

Word spread, and soon I was helping others—offering respite for families navigating dementia and filling gaps where traditional care services fell short. Too many were waiting indefinitely for support, suffering in isolation or reaching burnout as unpaid carers. I knew then: I had to help.

So, I built a self-funded support model—flexible, tailored, free from waitlists or restrictions. A service designed to empower individuals and families, enabling them to maintain their independence and live fully, with just a little help.

Things really do happen for a reason.

Companionship Services was founded in May 2024.

So, what have I been up to and who have I met along the way that supports my mission and vision to create change for those not yet needing intense care but seems somewhat “forgotten”?

Launch day: 1st of May

I started my launch at the Jobs fair in Staines. In the end I had the calling of offering employment opportunities to people with similar backgrounds, those trying to regain confidence after ill health, people of more mature age, those that may have been made redundant or mums and dads working around their families’ commitments. At this point it was just to get the word out and get a feel for future opportunities. 

With that being said, I was still very much getting things of the ground by myself, learning to create, what I admittingly would now describe as a mediocre website and design style, to working on creating contracts, business structure and all that kind of boring

stuff to making connections with care networks, speaking to councils, other support organisations, GP’s, social prescribers, to be met with overall agreement that a service as this is very much needed but as a business and not a charitable organisation, very much held back from the benefits of being added as a referral option by the majority, to those seeking support. Needs to be impartial are understandable reasons for this.

It is after all, a fairly new idea. The benefits in my mind still very clear, reduce loneliness, improved mental and physical wellbeing, means less strain on the NHS, people in older age staying more active and engaged in life and community activities, reduced risk of developing dementia, heart disease and deteriorating with their overall health, living for longer independently, money saved for the social care sector and families.

Supporting people back into the community, joining activities, shopping, outing, economic growth but we also get to see generations mix again and create a healthier and happier community. Some just need a little support, and offering a variety of options, funded and self-funded would offer greater options and opportunities to change the narrative for all.

As time continued, I went to meet people from different organisations, and was able to hold talks and mingle with the guests of Purple Angels, run by Jean and Lisa, with an amazing team of volunteers offering a fantastic activity to those living with dementia. Nichola from Hilary’s Hut

who runs monthly meets to alleviate loneliness with a games, craft and chatter corner for the older in the community.

Mixing with an amazing group of people within the care network has also shown that people in care homes are looked after well but still can experience loneliness.

I’ve been able to visit some fantastic care homes, some that boast luxury where I would happily retire to, including The Burlington, Loveday Esher, Avery Parkland Manor and Virginia Water as well as Signature Weybridge just to name a few.

Meeting with people and businesses supporting older people in the local community, means collecting resources, some of which I would be confident and happy to share. This means we can ease the life of those seeking support. The internet is like a web and there is nothing better than referring a likeminded business as option to consider.

Meanwhile visits with our clients went from strength to strength.

A client's love for history meant engaging visits to places of interest like Ham and Strawberry Hill House, his love for South African cuisine meant trips to East Sheen to buy his favourite snack. His wife’s birthday coming up, meant we were together buying a gift he knew she would love.

On the other hand, I was in awe when I found out that my very first client used to love deep diving. And so, every older person was once young, like us, living life to the full and have an interesting past and things they enjoyed.

I love making it possible. Maybe not in the exact way, but a can-do attitude with small adjustments, everyone can still enjoy the things they once loved.

The enjoyment for water in her DNA, we found a pool 1.2metres across and she slowly rebuild her strength and confidence, enjoying the feeling of weightlessness, the smell and feel of her immersing in a pool of water. Yes, she does it with support but better do than not at all.

A trip to Oxford Street was on her wish list too. To see the lights, be amongst the hustle and bustle of the street, shopping for herself and her family. Touching, feeling, trying out clothes, smelling fragrances that change with each department in the store. Hearing people chat and laugh, enjoying the buskers on the street. That day was fulfilling and although tired, a day she nor I will ever forget. 

With all this happening I did forget to mention that I did win the Spelthorne Business Plan Presentation only one month after launch, and I am reminded to mention it by those that followed my journey so far. It was an important milestone and great achievement, but I am not one to brag. However it was a great testament and approval that my vision is valid and my mission is worthy. 

So on it went, one new client joined and then another. Each with their own stories, life journeys and desire for more than what they currently have. The want for more control and freedom, independence, support to life a better quality of life.

Each very special to me as they were brave themselves or their families to reach out, asking for help can seem so daunting, yet so rewarding if you do. And the feedback we received was overwhelming and a testament that I was on the right path. And we are so grateful that those clients have taken their time to write them.

We were able with the help of a social media grant to take some great images and videos that would help many more to find support in how to look after an older loved one. Paul from FNX media and his team were amazing at guiding me and the lovely clients that offered their help in providing video testimonials and their valuable time to do so, I am ever so grateful.

 With each client I got more excited that my vision is coming to life, and throughout the last year I had to to seek out people that would join my team. Someone that would support clients the way that I would. Boy, for someone that has a clear idea and knows what they want, this one was a tough step for me, but I had to trust that the choices I made, the people that would join me on this journey, the training and open communication I would provide, will be good enough to grow our client base but also the team.

I knew what kind of persons she was looking for. They needed to be well spoken, kind, caring, compassionate, trustworthy, professional, being drivers as a big part to offer independence and opportunities to the clients that followed.

The team has grown to 6 members of staff over the past year, all fulfilling the role as companions beautifully including our lovely Debs, who has thus far supported me to create a informative webpage, social posts and engaging and helpful newsletter content. 

I couldn’t do it all without the amazing support and shared vision of my team.

We completed many different training modules over time as a team. Some are now first aid trained, Keeping people safe from scams and we are all Dementia friendly, a route that developed over the past year, that we find has become a big part of our service. There isn’t much support for people and carers affected by Dementia in the early to mid-stages, many facing carer’s burnout.

If we can just support them with a few hours of respite while nurturing the people living with dementia and providing person centred and stimulating activities, means the carer has more energy and focus to care for their loved one and improve the relationship between them.

And so we went on working on getting the word out about our services at local information and networking events, one being at the newly opened Shepperton Studios where I was able to hold a real Oscar’s Trophy. Surprised that it had a real weight to it.

Thanks to the help of our lovely Debs, we also experienced a little bit of a revamp over the last few month. You may not have seen the before but you just going to have to take my word for it, it’s 1000 times better than my initial attempt.

We also been featured in the local village matter magazine which was certainly a highlight for us too. 

Knowing the power of companionship and the vision meant increasing visibility and it included, amongst many other activities, applying to the Spelthorne Business Awards 2024. I was amazed that out of hundreds of applications to be chosen as a finalist for the best business in Ashford and Stanwell.

On 1st of November, exactly 6 month after launch, myself and two of my team, enjoyed a night of celebrations, delicious food, great company, performances and networking. We didn’t win, but were so honoured to already have been recognised as one of the best businesses in our area, after only such a short time. And I just need to add that I felt a million dollars, wearing that red dress. 

It has been a rollercoaster of emotions, starting a business isn’t for the faint hearted and many obstacles are there to overcome, many lessons to be learned and challenges to weather.

So in true "Anja style", I went to finish the year off with a challenge that at least I chose to set myself.

And so I joined the fundraising event for “I am a Director, get me out of here” in aid of Crossroads Care Surrey, a charity that supports unpaid carers with respite time. It seemed a perfect fit for what we stand for and wanted to support. Only a few weeks ago I rose to the challenge. We were met with creepy crawlies, holding a snake and tarantula, physical activities to win more stars for our team and the undoubtable worst one, the eating trial.

Fermented herring smoothie with a whole fisheye garnish. Would not recommend.

With people having to downed, boiled pigs ear, boiled chicken feet, fermented cabbage tofu and me getting the short straw at being presented with one of the worlds worst foods in the world, a fermented herring smoothie, topped, well it sunk, a whole fisheye that was the size of a big marble, I was done for. Amazing what a focused mind can make you achieve. I won that round.

And with the great teamwork of all involve, the blues won, and we were able to gunge the other team. All raising over a whopping £13'000 for the charity. I guess that made it all worth it.

It was time to reward myself. Growing up, we, as a family always listed and watched Andre’ Rieu on the telly. Someone I always wanted to see live, part of my lengthy bucket-list, he coincidentally was going to be in London, and I booked the tickets last June, knowing it would be a great one year anniversary treat, unfortunately it turned out to be the same day as the challenge I just completed. So, the drive to the venue I was able to let my husband experience some of the fermented smells that still omitted from my insights which were quietened by the lovely cider I enjoyed during the performance, thank goodness. 

It was a full-on day, but an amazing evening that made me reflect on last years ups, downs and successes.

I am so grateful for the past year, the people I met, the clients that have put their trust in us and now enjoy a life fuller than they thought they could ever experience again, the positive feedback and reassurance I know families’ experience. And the team that share my vision and are open to grow with me.

Thank you all for being there, as client as team, as family, as curious bystander, as supporter, whoever you are, you come across a movement that will change a whole generations outlook and journey's in later life.

It’s so much bigger than anything I could ever imagine, and I am excited to see what the future holds.

Anja