Oxygen therapy for all that need it
Suffolk Oxygen Therapy Centre is a charitable organisation that provides subsidised oxygen therapy to help people with sports injuries and conditions such as Multiple Sclerosis, long covid and cancer across East Anglia. The centre is funded entirely from donations, grants and a programme of year round fund-raising activities.
Our aim is to support as many people as possible on their journey towards wellness and recovery by making oxygen therapy accessible to as many people as possible. We are guided by 4 key principles:
- We are a service for all, everyone is treated the same no matter their condition or circumstance
- We follow nationally set guidelines so all members can feel confident they are in safe hands
- We operate with openness and honesty to ensure the charity is financially viable for the long term
- We adapt to the needs of every member and hunt out solutions when faced with a new challenge
How it all started
The centre has helped thousands of people since it was established in 1983. Trustee and former chairperson Peter Sims was introduced to hyperbaric oxygen as a therapy for his MS. He felt the benefits immediately, so set about with a small band of helpers to raise funds to start the centre with its first chamber.
40 years on, the centre has three chambers and over 250 members. It’s one the largest and longest running oxygen centres in the country having helped thousands of people and carrying out more than 3,000 therapy sessions per year.
Through our fantastic fundraising community we now have a gym which offers a complementary therapy service with a range of power-assisted exercise machines.
Our team
The centre is staffed by fully trained operators and supported by volunteers. Mark Suddes the Centre Manager is assisted by four paid members of staff, Fiona: Membership Coordinator, Sam: Senior First Operator (managing the equipment for the oxygen therapy). Sam is supported by First Operators Kerri and Steve helping to look after the day to day running of the Centre.
The charity can only exist with the work of our amazing volunteers who are all trained to national accreditation standards. You’ll find them either ‘front of house’ manning the reception, or working as Second Operators.
Our Board of Trustees are also all volunteers. The board has a wide range of experience in business knowledge running charitable organisations. They meet regularly to support the Centre Manager in the operation of both the charity and the centre.
Our community
We pride ourselves on being more than just a therapy centre, we’re a community - our staff, our volunteers, our fundraisers, our members. We describe ourselves as a big hug, the centre is a warm and welcoming safe haven for all members. The centre is a positive energetic place, there’s a smile for everyone. Our staff and volunteers understand everyone is on a different journey and we are on that journey together.
Need a natter? Fancy a cuppa? Our doors are open. The centre is a place for friendship, support, a listening ear, a lifeline for many. Come and join us in our cosy coffee room, there may even be cake!
"It’s like a community, we all try and help each other and understand each other, everyone is suffering with some kind of condition and we’re all there to support each other."