Mothership in the Westcombe News
Happy Birthday to Blackheath Complementary Health Centre
The Blackheath Complementary Health Centre is 22 years old this year! (In 2022). It’s owner, Sarah, opened the Centre in May 2000 with a borrowed £5,000 budget.
“I’d been working as an acupuncturist & tui na practitioner from a room on the first floor for 2 years when the landlord asked me if I would like to rent the whole floor. I wasn’t at all sure at the time!” She said.
“An old friend who was working as the practice manager at The Park Practice in Greenwich persuaded me that it would be an ideal time to go for it, as the Park practice was about to close its doors and practitioners and therapists were looking for somewhere to practise. On a wing and a prayer I took the plunge. We started with 3 therapy rooms and gradually grew the centre over the next 10 years.”
“In 2013 the charity that had occupied the second floor left for pastures new and again the landlord approached me to ask if we would like to take on the 2nd floor. This gave us the studio space for teaching classes and workshops, two further therapy rooms and an office for the amazing local charity MumsAid.
“In 2016 the landlord announced that the building would be sold at auction. I look back at that time now and wonder how on earth we managed to do what we did. It’s quite a story, but somehow, we managed to buy the building from the landlord and save the centre.
“The Pandemic was as it has been for so many small independent local business, a nightmare! We went from a successful thriving centre in the Winter of 2019 to almost nothing. Very shocking and deeply upsetting. The therapists couldn’t work and no one could come for treatment.
“The Mothership did survive the storm, we reopened our doors in June 2020 when our Chiropodist Vinita Mothersole came back to work.
“The Reiki drop clinic in run by Georgina Armstrong is 20 years old this year. It takes place on the first Sunday of every month (pay by donation) and is hugely popular with the local community.
“We’re looking forward to hosting more gong and sound bath meditations in the studio this year and to welcoming more practitioners and all those who would like support on their journey in this life. I see a great need for human contact, touch based therapies and body work as well as the talk therapies and counselling.”
Let’s hear from some of the clients of the Health Centre….
“Hidden away on the first floor of a row of shops on Westcombe Hill is one of South East London’s best kept secrets. Sarah Pritchard is more than just a healer: she is an expert in Chinese Acupuncture, Massage, Gong Baths, and so much more. She also has set up an environment for other practitioners to share their healing arts, including low-cost offerings like the monthly ‘pay what you can’ Reiki. This unique space is part of a hidden revolution in our high streets, where we move away from the corporate and towards the holistic.” Ian R
“Sarah first treated me over 20 years ago. I was a new mum, exhausted (of course) and had been suffering from repeated chest infections. Three sets of antibiotics in, and I still felt like hell. After a couple of treatments at Blackheath Complementary, I was myself again. Maybe it was simply time for me to get well, but it felt like a miracle at the time. Sarah is kind, warm, empathetic and definitely a force of nature. I look forward to my treatments and come out uplifted; quite literally more in tune with the world. The past few years have been difficult. Sarah has helped me deal with the impact of breast cancer, injury and what has felt like endless ailments. I have travelled a full circle and now (mostly) feel strong and positive about the future. I really value my treatments at Blackheath Complementary.” Jane
“Having a Centre with such excellent practitioners locally is a wonderful addition to our community. I always look forward to my appointments, knowing that I’ll come out “better”. Sarah is both an amazing acupuncturist and a lovely human being – I’m honoured to call her a friend”. Nina
“I’ve lived in Blackheath for 15 years and have regular acupuncture with Sarah at the Blackheath Complementary Health Centre. Sarah is an amazing practitioner and also utilises Tui na massage to complement the acupuncture treatment. Each session is bespoke to you and what your presenting condition is. I’ve been seeing Sarah and going to the centre for about 6 years. It’s such a welcoming place where everyone is supportive and friendly- the centre is a much loved place in the local community” Caroline
Read the article in the May 2022 issue of Westcombe News here (see page 4).
