FeelGoodMake the most of life

simplyhealth.co.uk

When you turn these pages you’ll hear our story. It’s a story of 2016, of 144 years of history, and of the next ten years and beyond. We exist to help people make the most of life through better everyday health. This is the purpose we live by - it guides everything we do. Just how we make a difference is told through the people we help every single day. Listen to their stories and you’ll understand so much more about us.

But first, let me take you back to the beginning

To grasp just how powerful our purpose is, you need to understand our history. So let’s go back to a pre-NHS world. You are the breadwinner of your family and you fall very ill. There is no other way of saying it; this is a disaster for your family. There is no state

funded healthcare to fall back on, and as well as trying to overcome your illness you are consumed by worry. Just how are you going to make ends meet? This worry overshadows any attempt to focus on getting better and a downward spiral begins.

It was against this backdrop that the first hospital savings schemes were established. We were pioneers of that time, stepping in to provide what are now known as health cash plans. We and other companies provided a light at the end of the tunnel, helping to take some of the financial burden away so people could concentrate on getting better. We’re proud of that past, contributing to better health and better lives alongside others, working for a common good.

Of course with the arrival of the NHS in July 1948, making healthcare free for all, you could be forgiven for thinking that our time was over. However, even Aneurin Bevan, one of the architects of the National Health Service, knew that the NHS couldn’t possibly do it all. He said of the hospital savings schemes: “If they watch to see where the NHS shoe pinches the public, it would be there that opportunities for further and renewed voluntary effort would help to ease the pinch.”

We took the hint and picked up the gauntlet. We seized opportunities, overcame challenges and adapted to the changing world around us. We did this with the unwavering desire to help people with their health, so they could make the most of life. This is one thing that hasn’t changed.

We’re the kind of people who live by a purpose

We’re here for everyone

Our purpose is more relevant in today’s world than ever. Our population is ageing, which means the NHS and social care system is facing a time of unprecedented challenge. The NHS is understandably focusing on acute care. At the same time, digital and wearable technology is changing the way people approach their health, giving them more information so they can take control. The UK is becoming more health aware just as some health services are harder to get hold of. That’s why we’re here. Not only to bridge the gap, but also to innovate and challenge conventional thinking. We’re here for everyone.

Through The Unlimited Company we’re transforming the mobility market - discarding conventional thinking and taking a fresh approach that puts customers first. We don’t believe in limits, and we certainly don’t believe that customers who want help to live independently should only

be offered products that come in three shades of beige. We’re different and we’re thinking differently.

We understand the challenges facing the social care system and are using our experience to pilot a new approach to enable employers to support millions of carers who are juggling care responsibilities and work commitments.

We’re starting a movement around movement

We know that around 20 million people in the UK are currently inactive. This has a huge impact on their everyday health and we’re doing something about it. Through the Simplyhealth Great Run Series we want to get millions of people moving in whatever way they can, whether that’s taking part in a running event, or just taking the stairs more than the lift. We champion every attempt to get moving, because we know just how life enhancing it can be.

Let’s take our health into our hands

We know that we can make a bigger difference, but it all starts with our health. So let’s control it, maintain it and enhance it. Let’s make sure we can all afford it, access it and understand it. Let’s create a different kind of world; where feeling great is normal, because each one of us is improving our health every day, and improving every day with our health.

Turn these pages and see how together with our customers, colleagues and professional partners, just like we did before the NHS, we are helping people to make the most of life, through better everyday health.

Romana Abdin Chief Executive Officer

over

650,000pets covered by a

Simplyhealth pet health plan

£1,600,000donated to 23 health-related charitable partners

Fairness 500 score of 468↑ (450 - 2015)

Reserves of

£276m

£0.8mprofit before tax for the year↑ (£0.2 - 2015)

Over half a million health conversations with our customers

Over 3 million everyday health claims paid

2016 in numbers

Over 3 million people

in the UK covered by a Simplyhealth health plan

“I’ve had my plan since the late 1950’s when I would pay my shilling a week! When I got married I covered my wife and our children too. We’ve benefitted so much from our health plans.

My wife has regular osteopathy sessions and it’s great to have the extra help all year round towards our dental treatment. Being able to claim for our optical needs has been of great value to us, especially considering the high cost of glasses these days. Joy has to have her eyes checked every year as she has Type 2 Diabetes and I have mine checked every two years. Usually both of us need new glasses at least every two years and as they’re around £300+ a pair, the benefit

we’re able to claim is very welcome! So, as you get older, the health plan becomes even more valuable.

The good thing is that our daughter still really appreciates her plan too, and now her whole family is covered. She’s used it to claim back money towards car parking for hospital appointments, visits to the opticians and dentist and she was even given a cash amount when our grandchildren were born.

It’s brilliant to know that our whole family’s health is in great hands.”

This isn’t just a business transaction for us. This is about having the very best possible relationships with our customers. We know that each and every one of our customers has ever-changing and growing needs and we always put those needs first - no matter what.

We have over half a million health conversations with our customers every year. We listen to what they think; we listen to what they want; we listen to what they need. We work tirelessly to find new solutions, products, services and health plan benefits that means they and their families can continue to lead the happiest, healthiest lives possible thanks to better everyday health.

With over 144 years of experience supporting individuals and families with their health needs, we like to think we know what we’re doing. But it’s not up to us to tell you that. Why not hear it from Robin and Joy Clark, who’ve been making the most of their lives for nearly 60 years with a little extra help from their everyday health plan!

IT’S ABOUT KNOCKING OUR CUSTOMERS’ SOCKS OFFOur customers are our number one priority. We exist to help them make the most of life through better everyday health.

“I met Julie 27 years ago, we got married and Shannon, our daughter, came along. Then six months later Julie woke up one morning screaming saying she was blind in one eye. That was the start of a six month process that ended with a diagnosis of Multiple Sclerosis.

Shannon was nearly one and we had to do what we needed to do to function. Julie carried on working, but two years in had a spell in hospital. I was between work and hospital all the time.

Julie was using a rollator walker to get around but was still managing to work, until the option of voluntary redundancy came up. She decided to take it because the MS was progressing and she was finding things trickier. She went from a full-time job running a department of 40 people to working as an administrator part-time, but we had to take a hit on the salary to make things easier and less stressful.

Then in 2010 the big one happened. One morning Julie couldn’t feel where she was in the bed. She couldn’t feel where her legs were, she couldn’t stand up or anything. So she had to stay in hospital for a month and then go to rehab for a month. At this time Shannon had just started secondary school, I was working full-time and to say it was a stressful time is a bit of an understatement.

It became clear that Julie wasn’t going to go back to work. We were in the situation where we had both been working to now having to cope with whatever benefits Julie could get and my salary.

I never make any secret of the fact that sometimes my day’s work is the equivalent of somebody else’s respite care, because it gives me a smattering of normality for a few hours a day. But my job meant I could be out for long days and some weekends and as time progressed that became harder.

When Julie could no longer drive I had to take more time out to help her do the things she wanted to do. I used to think that I had to work harder than everyone else so I could get the time off when I needed it. As workplaces become more flexible, that will make people’s lives easier. If you are a carer I believe you are more conscientious, because you are constantly trying to balance your caring role with your working role.

As we all live for longer, there are going to be more carers in the workplace, which means companies are going to have to change. Whether it’s people caring for their older relatives or their partners like me.

It all comes down to flexible working patterns and companies being more aware of the caring role their employees have.

Two years ago I was made redundant. Then I was stuck with what to do next, because although we had some carers coming in at times I still needed to be around. I couldn’t look at jobs that were on shifts, on call or away at nights. I couldn’t be in that situation so we decided I would go self-employed so I could work from home more. That frees me up to help Julie do the things she wants to do. But I have to work all the hours I can to build up the business, while keeping a couple of days a week to help Julie.

With an illness like MS, it’s a constantly changing landscape, which means the caring role is changing too. What Julie can do today, she might not be able to do tomorrow. As a couple it can make you stronger because we’re constantly re-evaluating how we do things and have to work together to move everything forward.”

We know that on top of the 6.5 million people in the UK officially classed as carers, around 24.5 million people provide a range of unpaid care services for friends and relatives, ranging from shopping and cooking to helping with bathing and dressing. These ‘undercover carers’ take on their roles because they love the person they’re caring for, but that doesn’t mean they don’t need support. We believe that one of the biggest issues in healthcare right now is care and we want to do something about it.

That’s why we’ve launched the Simplyhealth Care Community; an online forum where carers can share experiences with people in similar situations and get extra support. But we can do so much more, which is why we’ve developed and are piloting a new employee benefit called Care for Life, helping employers support carers in the workplace.

David Dean from Buckinghamshire cares for his wife, Julie, who has Multiple Sclerosis. Over the years Julie’s condition has worsened which means David’s role as her carer has also had to adapt.

A carer’s story: in search for a better work-care balance

Visit the Simplyhealth Care Community at

healthunlocked.com /care.community

We’re always available and easily accessible online, at home or in store. Visit one of our stores and you’ll see that we don’t do conventional and we definitely don’t do beige. You’ll enter a bright, vibrant environment, where style, design and luxury are just as important as product features. Grab a coffee from our central hub and have a chat with our expert advisors. We’ll help you spend less time planning to live and more time living, regardless of your age or ability.

Find out more at theunlimitedcompany.co.uk

A life.Unlimited.

In a market where there is no trusted provider and where the focus is on disability of patients and not the abilities of people; in a world where product functionality overrides aesthetics and where older and disabled people are not given the opportunity to shop for their needs in great environments – we are different. We are redefining the market. We are building a retail brand of the future and we won’t stand still. We are The Unlimited Company.

852 engineer visits to customers including service, repairs, warranty callouts and deliveriesIn

201

6 170 Home Assessment Consultant Visits

“When I was diagnosed with Polymyositis, it took me a long time to come to terms with the fact that I needed to be in a wheelchair to help me with my everyday life. I couldn’t manage steps or stairs as well as before and I would become tearful just thinking about it – it felt as though I was leaving a part of my life behind. I was grieving for my ‘old life’ and my mobility. But you either become imprisoned in your own home or you find ways to help you maintain as much of your independence as possible.

That’s when, with the support of my husband, Geoff, and my doctor, I made the decision to get an electric wheelchair, because being as independent as possible is so important to me. Eventually, it was time for me to get a new chair – but I loved the one I had so I wanted to spend time finding the right one for me and my lifestyle.

During my online research, I found The Unlimited Company and called to find out how they could help me. They put me in touch with Danny at the Andover

store and he very quickly arranged to come and visit me at home. This was wonderful – I didn’t have to go to the store myself which can be very difficult and tiring when you can only travel short distances for a short time. Danny came to our home bringing a selection of chairs with him for me to try. The first thing I told him was I didn’t want a velvet armchair on wheels.

Disabled people want stylish products that fit with their everyday lives. I wanted something that keeps up with my modern lifestyle.

Danny talked to me about my needs and my lifestyle, allowing me to try out the chairs he had selected for me based on our conversation over the phone. He was polite and understanding and he listened, knowing exactly what I wanted and needed.

When you have a condition such as mine, you’re using your chair all day, every day so it has to be something easy to use and that’s exactly what Danny and The Unlimited Company helped me find.

Having my new chair from The Unlimited Company gives me joy each and every day. I want to enjoy life. I’m a happy, cheerful person – it’s who I am.

I’ve had to develop my life around my condition, making the most of my life with as much happiness and quality as possible. I have a very supportive husband and family, who all help me maintain my independence and enjoy my life. I’m able to go out with my daughter shopping or for a coffee; I’m able to join my WI group three times a month and Geoff doesn’t have to stay as my carer. The Unlimited Company and the support from Danny have helped me maintain my independence – and that makes all the difference.”

Enjoying life is part

of who I am

Learning to live with a life-changing condition can be hard to come to terms with. Kate Gray, 67, has suffered from an autoimmune disease since she was 43 years old. She was diagnosed with Polymyositis – a chronic inflammation of the body’s muscles. Kate shares more about how her chance encounter with The Unlimited Company has helped her to retain her independence and make the most of life.

“When I first opened my practice, I had five patients – my husband and my young children.

In 1989, I signed up with the Denplan dental plan, building up our list of private patients. It was the only viable budget-based dental scheme available to help my patients take care of their oral health. I liked the idea of providing my patients with a form of affordable dental cover. It ensured that they didn’t feel disadvantaged in any way, gave them flexibility to choose their level of cover and it took the worry out of covering the cost of their dental care. It quickly became very successful with more and more of our patients signing up to benefit from the scheme.

Over and above the peace of mind it gives our patients, the quality and level of service that dentists and practices receive from Denplan is second to none. I can’t speak highly enough of our Key Client Consultant who provides continuous, solid support to our practice and our team. They’re always on hand to offer guidance and advice, helping us to resolve any business-related or personnel problems we might face at any point, from staffing to training and policies.

I’m a big advocate of Denplan Excel - a ground-breaking certification programme for member dentists. It’s a fantastic, comprehensive dental regulation and clinical governance programme, that also includes individualised patient clinical risk assessments and oral health scores. It’s really pushed the boundaries and raised the standards of dentistry services in the UK and has transformed practices across the country, all while keeping patients at the heart of everything.

Being in partnership with Denplan gives you access to so many opportunities to grow and develop your business. You have access to experts within the profession, to advisors who can offer you practical and business support, as well as marketing support and guidance. It’s an invaluable service and partnership.

At the end of the day, our patients need to feel that they are the most important person in the world and working in partnership with Denplan certainly helps dental practices achieve that.”

For more information visit simplyhealthprofessionals.co.uk

I’ve been a Simplyhealth Voting Member for a year now. I’m interested to see how Simplyhealth works and what it plans to do for its customers in the future. If you like to understand how things work and how decisions are made, it’s a great opportunity to be a Voting Member and represent Simplyhealth’s customers.

Perfect partnershipsMeredyth Bell MBE, 71, established her St Helens Dental Practice in 1984. While leading her thriving business, Meredyth acts as Principal Dental Surgeon supported by five associate dentists and four hygienists. A leading expert in her field, she was awarded an MBE for services to standards in dentistry in 2000.

Here, she shares more about her long-standing partnership with Denplan, now part of Simplyhealth Professionals, of which she is a Life President, as well as her role as a Simplyhealth Voting Member.

“Denplan is the only dental insurance that truly has patients at heart. If you want quality and the highest level of service, I wouldn’t go anywhere else.”

Become a Voting Member

“Our working Cocker Spaniel, Poppy, has had her pet health plan since we first got her at eight weeks old. We wouldn’t do without it and we’re planning to get the same plan for our new kitten. The plan is so handy to have and really takes some of the worry away from paying for her preventive care. When you first get a pet, you’re so excited to have them but you often forget about all the extra costs to take care of them – like the monthly flea and wormer medications. Having Poppy’s pet health plan means we don’t have to worry about any of this. Simply by paying a small amount each month, about as much as we pay for our film subscriptions, means we’re doing our best to keep her in the best health possible, without worrying about a large unexpected bill.

One of the best things about Poppy’s cover is that we get to take her for a general health check every six months. It’s a chance for us to chat with her vet on a regular basis and because of these visits which are all included, we’ve got a great relationship with her vet and she knows everything about our family and Poppy’s needs. We even receive text messages to remind us about when she needs her next worm or flea medication and we can just pop in and collect it when we need it as it’s all included in her plan.

Having Poppy’s pet health plan gives us complete peace of mind. It means we don’t have to wait for her to become ill and then treat her – instead we can keep her in the best health possible at all times before anything becomes a problem.”

Over

650,000pets covered

Pets encourage us to play. They get us out into the great outdoors. They help us seek adventure. They comfort us and they give us affection when we need it most. They help us lead happier, healthier lives to the full.

Many of us see our pets as one of the family so we understand that when your pet is healthy, you’re happy. That’s why we want to help you keep your pets in the very best health possible. It’s why we work hard to offer the best pet health plans that meet the exact needs of you and your pet; taking away the worry of the cost of your pets’ health, and leaving you free to enjoy making the most of life together.

Here, Caroline Batchelor, owner of two year old Cocker Spaniel, Poppy, explains why having a Simplyhealth pet health plan is so important to her family.

A wa lk i n t h e pa rk

People Power makes all the difference

We’re the kind of people who live by a purpose, and everyone at Simplyhealth has one thing in common; a desire to make a much bigger difference to our customers.

We’re proud to say that our customers come first and we do everything we can to help our people deliver for them. We want our people to aim high and never settle for second best. And when we find great people who share that spirit, we do everything we can to nurture it.

Norma McKenzie, one of our Customer Advisers, epitomises the Simplyhealth spirit - she’s caring, vibrant and puts others first. She joined Simplyhealth 40 years ago and throughout that time, she’s been at the forefront of helping our customers.

“When I joined Simplyhealth, I only intended to stay for a couple of years, but I enjoyed it so much I’ve now been here for 40 years!

In that time, I’ve always worked in very close teams and there’s always been a fantastic culture. Even though, over the years, there’ve been many changes, it’s always had a friendly, supportive feel. That’s really important as it makes a huge difference to the experience our customers have with us.

Over the years, technology has really changed the way we do business, making us much more effective and efficient, but our commitment to helping our customers has remained exactly the same. They are our number one priority – the reason we’re here is to support them and help them lead happy, healthy lives.

We’re empowered to do as much as we can to help our customers – and that’s what I love most about working here.

We’re able to make the right decisions to help our customers as best as we can in the right way for them.

Speaking to our customers each day, doing the best I can for them, helping them feel their very best is what matters to me. There are lots of companies out there who say they care about their customers, but they haven’t got the passion to genuinely want to help them and make a difference to their everyday lives. We do care and we do everything we can to help our customers. When you receive a thank you for helping them and going the extra mile, it’s proof that we’re doing something right! It makes me and the team feel great and proud to work for a company that enables us all to help our customers as much as we can.

We’re always encouraged to challenge ourselves at work each day. We set our own goals and work towards them. To anyone wanting to join Simplyhealth, I’d always say ‘be yourself, be helpful, be caring’. Treat your colleagues as your friends and accept one another for your own individual qualities and what that brings to your team, the company and to your own career progression here.”

We’ve talked about how our sole purpose is to help people make the most of life through better everyday health.

Our partnerships with health-related charities are vital to helping us deliver on that promise by going beyond our day to day business activities to make a long-term difference to more people’s lives.

In 2016 we donated £1.6 million to over 20 like-minded charitable causes including Revitalise, Brainwave, Auditory Verbal and RNIB, while touching the lives of hundreds of thousands of people across the UK.

With our pledge to donate 10% of our profits every year, as well as providing people across our organisation with 500 volunteering days, we’ll continue to support charities that are dedicated to helping people with everyday health challenges make the most of life in every possible way.

10%of our profits are donated to our charitable partners every year

“My lovely son, Charlie, aged 26, is severely autistic and learning disabled. Because of his autism, he can exhibit behaviours that can challenge society and our family unit.

Charlie started going to Challengers when he was five. Since then he’s been assessed by the different age group schemes, including the Young Adult Scheme at Stoughton. Challengers has been the only consistent support throughout his life.

Without Challengers, Charlie wouldn’t have had access to the outside world, participated in all the wonderful activities, made so many loyal friends and memories, or grown into the confident young man he is now. And we wouldn’t have survived as a family.

Our need for support became greater when he reached 18 and became an adult. As a family you can feel as though you’re on the brink of a precipice. Most support and funding that you have throughout childhood stops at 18. Adulthood for a disabled child is often a very lonely place and for families can be a very traumatic period. That’s why the Young Adult schemes are wonderful, offering huge opportunities and experiences to young people and much needed breaks for families.

I cannot praise the helpers who looked after him over the years enough. Despite at times his behaviours and anxieties being quite challenging, nothing was too much trouble for them. Charlie was treated with such love and respect as a person in his own right rather than just someone with autism. They got to know my son and he shone under their care. They were his friends. As a parent, this is incredibly positive and empowering.

I can remember Charlie attending a Fancy Dress Halloween disco years ago. He was never invited to parties, not even family ones, so this was a big occasion for him and us. He was so excited dressed as Dracula!

On arriving, we were met by an amazing spectacle, the hall had been decorated, lights flashing, music playing. It was magical. In that moment, my son wasn’t autistic, he was normal, he was Charlie, I can remember sitting in my car crying with joy. I will never forget that moment.

They’re so often forgotten, but disabled children become disabled adults and their lives get much tougher with age.

With Simplyhealth’s support, Challengers has contributed enormously towards giving my son a happy future. He talks with great affection of the wonderful staff and has such happy memories which will stay with him forever. I’m so proud of my lovely son and so proud to have been part of the Challengers family.”

For more information visit disability-challengers.org

“I’m so grateful that there are wonderful people like those at Simplyhealth who help fund schemes like this

for disabled adults.”

“In that moment, he wasn’t autistic, he was normal,

he was Charlie”At first, Charlie’s story might not seem that extraordinary. But his is a story that brings to life the reasons why we’re committed to helping people live a life unlimited and unrestricted thanks to the support we can offer with our corporate giving.

Developing and delivering exciting and inclusive play and leisure for disabled children and young people, Challengers has an incredible impact on many young disabled people’s lives.

Here, Alison Mould shares how her son Charlie has benefited from being part of just one of the causes we support – the Challengers Young Adult Transition Programme.

A friend in need…

Having support from the right people to guide you through some of life’s most difficult moments can make all the difference to people who’re dealing with life-long health concerns.

“Two months after my diagnosis of Age-related Macular Degeneration, I found out about the Macular Society through a friend. After joining, I learned about the ‘Befriending Service’ and was keen to sign up to receive regular phone calls from someone who had experience of macular disease. Someone who I knew would understand my situation and I’d be able to relate to and have honest conversations with.

Although I have plenty of close friends and family, including my sons, who I can talk to and lean on for support, you can’t keep talking to the same people about the same thing. I felt I needed someone else to speak to – someone who understood my problems first hand.

At first, when I was initially diagnosed, I thought there was either going to be a very bad deterioration of my sight, or that there would be a cure. But now I realise it’s a way of life for me. I’m from a musical family and have always been part of a choir since school. I immediately thought that would be one of the biggest things I’d have to give up – the notation is fine but keeping up with the text can be difficult.

The service put me in touch with Hugh, my telephone befriender, who I speak to fortnightly. We have similar interests and his positive outlook continues to inspire me. He understands my love of music and my family preoccupations. He’s helped me cope with the shock by encouraging me to talk and going past my sight problems.

I want to encourage people with similar sight problems to use The Macular Society Befriending Service. If it hadn’t been available to me, I would’ve let the worry build up and been in a worse depressive state. We don’t always talk about AMD, but having someone to talk to who really understands what you’re going through and can help you through those challenging moments with positivity and encouragement makes all the difference.”

At Simplyhealth we’re dedicated to supporting health-related charities that are as committed as we are to helping people who are managing health issues.

One of the organisations we support is The Macular Society. We’re proud that over the last 13 years we’ve been able to donate £255,500 towards helping the charity support people with degenerative vision problems to lead normal, healthy and independent lives.

Rita March, 78, suffers from Age-related Macular Degeneration (AMD). Here, she tells us more about the vital support she receives from The Macular Society and her ‘befriending buddy’ as she undergoes treatment, enabling her to remain as active as possible and plan for her future.

For more information on AMD visit: macularsociety.org

An exciting partnership that’s set to get millions moving

The Simplyhealth Great Run Series is the largest, most compelling and innovative series of mass participation running events in the world – meaning this year, over 230,000 people will be taking part, including in the Simplyhealth Great North Run and Simplyhealth Great South Run. Our partnership with The Great Run Company means that together we can bring our joint purpose to life: working together to get millions moving and inspiring people to get active and enjoy even better everyday health. Throughout the year, there’ll be numerous running events and we’ll be using our partnership to inspire and motivate as many people as possible.

This isn’t about elite athletes pursuing a personal best. It’s about people who’ve never run before but want to get more active and much healthier. It’s about families who want to run together; people with disabilities who want to show that their disability doesn’t hold them back. It’s about the thousands of charities that will benefit from every participant’s incredible fundraising efforts. This includes our headline charity, Revitalise, which provides breaks for disabled people and their carers.

We want you to get involved – join our movement movement!

millionsmoving.co.uk

Aberdeen

Simplyhealth Great Aberdeen Run - Half Marathon 27th Aug

Glasgow

Simplyhealth Great Women’s Run - 10k 4th Jun

Edinburgh

Simplyhealth Great Winter Run - 2.5k 7th Jan

Simplyhealth Great Edinburgh XC (Elite) 7th Jan

Simplyhealth Great Winter Run Junior - 1 mile 7th Jan

Simplyhealth Great Edinburgh Run - 10 miles 23rd Apr

Simplyhealth Great Edinburgh Family Mile 23rd Apr

Newcastle

Simplyhealth Great North 10k 9th Jul

Simplyhealth Great North 10k Family Mile 9th Jul

Simplyhealth Great North 5k 9th Sep

Simplyhealth Great North Mini / Junior 9th Sep

Simplyhealth Great North Run - Half Marathon 10th Sep

Manchester

Simplyhealth Great Manchester Run - 10k 28th May

Simplyhealth Great Manchester Half Marathon 28th May

Simplyhealth Great Manchester Mini / Junior 28th May

Birmingham

Simplyhealth Great Birmingham 10k 30th Apr

Simplyhealth Great Birmingham Run - Half Marathon 15th Oct

Simplyhealth Great Birmingham Mini / Junior 15th Oct

London

Simplyhealth Great Team Relay 29th Jun

Simplyhealth Great Newham London Run - 10k 2nd Jul

Simplyhealth Great Newham London Family Run - 2k 2nd Jul

Bristol

Simplyhealth Great Bristol 10k 7th May

Simplyhealth Great Bristol Family Mile 7th May

Simplyhealth Great Bristol Run - Half Marathon 17th Sep

Portsmouth

Simplyhealth Great South 5k 21st Oct

Simplyhealth Great South Run Mini / Junior 21st Oct

Simplyhealth Great South Run - 10 miles 22nd Oct

“Early in 2016 a friend and fellow Krav Maga student (a form of self-defence), jokingly asked if I ran the two point something miles to class on a Sunday. “No chance ever,” was my immediate thought. The seed was planted though, and one weekend I decided to give it a go. I hated every second of it, stopping countless times on my journey. I continued trying in an attempt to improve my fitness levels, but even with music as a distraction I still hated it. I persevered and slowly I started to notice that I was stopping less and it was becoming easier.

All of a sudden I found myself going out several times and one very welcome development was that my weight started to drop. What I wasn’t prepared for though, was the improvement in my mental health. I’m not ashamed to admit that in the past I have suffered from mental health issues, the most recent being anxiety, and I can say that I was genuinely amazed at the positive difference that running made to my outlook.

In the run up to winter, I had to make a tough decision. I could either continue with Krav Maga which I love, and potentially not run as often, or I could stop Krav Maga and switch to a gym membership so I could still run regularly.

After a great deal of thought, I went with the gym membership and continued with my running and I can say, with my hand on my heart, that I don’t regret it at all.

My anxiety is now all but non-existent and I can’t remember the last time I felt this way. For me running has had massively positive rewards: I worry less because I run more.”

Darnell Hathaway | Simplyhealth employee David Runciman and Shawni Sergeant

230,000 participants

600,000 spectators

5,000 volunteers

£55 million raised for charity

13 events

10 cities

4.7 million television audience

A rugby player, who was left unable to walk after he broke his femur while playing, ran the Simpyhealth Great Bristol 10k with his fiancée who he says was ‘instrumental’ in his recovery.

David Runciman, from Bristol, broke his upper leg during a rugby match in Cheltenham in an accident that caused one of his bones to snap in two.

David, 31, could not walk for ten weeks after undergoing an operation to insert a metal rod into his bone at Gloucester Royal Hospital. He remained in constant pain and was sofa-bound when he began his rehabilitation.

His fiancée, Shawni Sergeant, a sports therapist from Bristol, juggled a busy working life to support him and provide therapy for him during his recovery.

After making a remarkable recovery, with Shawni’s help that allowed him to get back on his feet, David decided to set himself a challenge to sign up to the Simplyhealth Great Bristol 10k, almost a year to the day after his injury.

EVERY RUNNER HAS A STORY

We want to get millions of people moving.

For more inspiration visit millionsmoving.co.uk

Regular exercise can help make you feel happier and more positive, which is motivation in itself. But where do you start? These 10 tips might be the motivation you need to help you get moving.

TOP 10 TIPS TO HELP YOU GET MOVING!

Look out for more healthy tips on Twitter and Facebook @SimplyhealthUK

1. START WITH A POSITIVE HABITWe humans are creatures of habit. Creating positive habits helps us maintain self-discipline and a sense of stability. Start small by gradually introducing a routine, like going for a short walk each morning or lunchtime. As you get used to this new habit, you’ll start doing it without really thinking about it.

4. TAKE SMALL STEPS TOWARDS YOUR FIRST 5K How do you become a runner if you’ve never been the active type? By starting small. You can build up to running 5k with a little motivation – don’t expect it to happen overnight. Having a plan to help you reach your goals can work a treat. You could write a plan and stick it on the fridge, or get an app to help you. Start by walking for 20 minutes every other day, then gradually over the sessions begin to alternate walking with jogging. Eventually you’ll be running for 30 minutes without having to even rest.

5. DETOX WHILE YOU WORKOUTThere are some health benefits to getting sweaty by exercising. As well as flushing toxins away, experts tell us that sweating releases excess salt, cholesterol and alcohol3. Your body is made up of around 60%4 water, so keep yourself topped up with water throughout the day, whether you’re exercising or not.

8. NOURISH YOUR HEARTDid you know, you can reduce the risk of coronary heart disease and stroke by up to 35% just by being physically active? The NHS suggests 150 minutes of exercise a week, so you could try to do 30 minutes of walking every day to keep your heart healthy. Could you have a gentle cycle to work instead of being cooped-up in the car? Or cycle to the shops and back to pick up the milk?

7. GRAB A FRIEND TO EXERCISE WITHThere’s nothing like a bit of healthy competition from a friend when it comes to exercise. Who can run further? Who can do more sit-ups? Exercising with others helps you push yourself to do just one more minute, or keep going to the end of the path. Plus it makes it more fun!

6. FEEL LIKE DOING MOREYou may find that being active makes you mentally sharper, more energetic, and productive. These good feelings can have a knock-on effect, and push you to do more of what you love, or have been meaning to do for a while. You may feel more empowered and positive about other things in life. How’s that for a way of making you stay motivated and meet your goals?

9. EXERCISE AWAY THE STRESS Has work left you feeling like tearing your hair out? If you’re feeling too wound-up to lie down for 5 mins with your eyes shut, try going for a run in the fresh air instead. Exercising helps clear your mind and reduce stress, so go for a walk, jog, or run and get that aggression out. It boosts your mood and can even help reduce anxiety and depression. The more you start exercising, the more you’ll start to feel positive and motivated as the endorphins kick-in.

10. MOVE MORE, SIT LESS Sitting for a long time isn’t healthy5. It’s even been described as the ‘silent killer’6 because sitting or lying still for a long time can lead to an increased risk of heart disease, stroke, type 2 diabetes, and obesity. Why not try getting away from your desk every hour, or walking up and down stairs?

3. TREAT YOUR EXERCISE ROUTINE LIKE AN APPOINTMENTPut it on your calendar - then it will be harder to put off! Stick to it like you do with remembering birthdays or the school run. If you’re put off by messy hair or even just being out of breath2, remember: no pain, no gain!

2. YOU’LL SLEEP LIKE A LOG Have trouble going to sleep? A whopping 63.1% of people are unhappy with the amount of sleep they get, according to The 2016 UK Sleep Survey Results1. Regular exercise can help you doze off more easily, making you feel energetic and ready for more. Try going for a 20-minute walk every lunchtime, or if you fancy staying indoors do some star-jumps or jogging on the spot. If you keep it up, you might even find yourself dozing off before bedtime. Try it!

1 dreams.co.uk/sleep-matters-club/sleep-survey-uk-2016/#survey-12 psychologytoday.com/blog/shrink/201411/the-real-reason-we-dont-exercise3 lifehack.org/articles/lifestyle/10-amazing-benefits-sweating-you-didnt-know.html4 water.usgs.gov/edu/propertyyou.html5 nhs.uk/Livewell/fitness/Pages/sitting-and-sedentary-behaviour-are-bad-for-your-health.aspx6 nhs.uk/Livewell/fitness/Pages/whybeactive.aspx

Richard Harris | Non Executive Director and Chair of the Audit Committee

“I’m proud to be part of an organisation that is increasing its presence in the everyday health sector, and whose people constantly demonstrate an adaptability and ambition to provide an ever expanding range and quality of services to so many people.”

Mike Hall | Non Executive Director, Senior Independent Director and Chair of the Remuneration Committee

“We’re about delivering a business which not just works for our customers, but also for our people. We want our people to value coming to work because they know they’re making a difference. Creating an environment that helps them do that, values them for doing that and sends them home happy is hugely enriching for all of us.”

Alex Pike | Non Executive Director

“Together we’ll achieve our ambition by continuing to put our customers at the heart of everything we do, ensuring we provide the best health advice and education as well as easy access to everyday health services. In the future, we’ll pioneer ways for everyone to easily, proactively and cost efficiently manage their health and wellbeing. I’m passionate about changing the UK from being a nation focussed on sickness to being a nation focussed on wellness.”

Romana Abdin | Chief Executive Officer

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e A word from our boardOur Simplyhealth Board members are dedicated to providing the best leadership possible, ensuring we stay true to our core values and our purpose of helping people make the most of life through better everyday health.

Strong supporters of our people and our teams, they’re passionate about ensuring every one of our employees is able to lead a happy and healthy life, while delivering the best standards of service for our customers.

They continually challenge our perspectives, making sure we make responsible and sustainable decisions, as well as ensuring we always do the right thing for our people and our customers.

Ben Kent | Chief Financial Officer

“We’re building a business in which every one of our employees understands our purpose, our strategy and most importantly, the part that they play in delivering this. We want to be known as a great place to work, offering an exceptional employee experience, as we know that engaged, inspired and healthy employees do a great job for our customers. Making the right strategic choices will ensure that we can continue to deliver our purpose over the long term.”

Ken Piggott | Chairman

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