Posted on by Sarah Canny

Introducing Extra Help North Somerset: Exceptional Home-Help Services Now Available

In this week’s blog, Extra Help is thrilled to announce that our valuable home-help services are now available in North Somerset. Please join us in welcoming Extra Help North Somerset‘s owner, Katy Duncan, to the Extra Help family!

Service areas covered

Extra Help North Somerset launched at the beginning of October and provides home-help services in the following areas:

 

Meet Katy

Katy lives in Portishead with her husband, Dave, and two young children. With a background in outdoor education, she currently works part-time at a local tourist attraction, Noah’s Ark Zoo Farm. She is an active member of her local church, and also runs a local Brownie unit. Therefore, she has always been deeply connected to her local community in North Somerset.

Why Extra Help?

When Katy’s children started school, she found she had more time to explore additional ways of earning an income. As she loves interacting with the public, it was important to her to find something “helpful, useful, and worthwhile”.

As Katy had never run a business before, she chose to go down the franchise route. She started researching franchise businesses online, but found that many of them were very sales-driven, and nothing appealed to her until she found Extra Help.

“I could see it made a real difference to people’s lives,” she says, “Plus I felt my background, interpersonal and organisational skills would be particularly relevant.”

When Katy spoke to existing franchisees, she could feel their genuine passion for the business and it was clear they were like one big family. She also realised that, although there’s a business model to follow, this home-help franchise allows you the flexibility to put your own stamp on it, depending on your clients’ needs.

Katy also loved the fact that Extra Help can help with so many different tasks, such as transport to hospital appointments, meal preparation, and companionship. She believes Extra Help appeals to many types of people, including those who already have carers.

She says: “Whilst there are several care agencies in the area, carers are pushed for time and often aren’t able to do housework, pick up prescriptions or sit and have a chat with you over a cup of tea. As we don’t offer personal care, we’re significantly less expensive than care agencies, so we serve as a good complement. We’re also more affordable for those who don’t need personal care, just help with day-to-day tasks and chores.”

 

Support and training

Since joining Extra Help, Katy has been impressed with the extensive support she has received from Extra Help, including weekly ‘Power Hour’ zoom meetings with her fellow franchisees, an Annual Conference, and access to a support team to help her learn how to use Extra Help’s CRM system. This support has been invaluable as she establishes her home-help franchise in North Somerset.

She says: “Claire has helped me understand exactly what I’m taking on. I often deal with Sarah, Claire’s daughter, as it’s a family business, for any administrative questions I may have, and she’s been extremely helpful too.”

What has Katy achieved so far?

Although it’s early days, Katy has already generated lots of interest, both through her church and children’s school, which has confirmed that there’s a definite demand for home-help services in North Somerset.

Her first enquiries came from social media, as a result of posting on local groups. However, she believes most of her business will be generated through word-of-mouth, as her home-help franchise’s reputation grows.

Katy and her home-helpers have all trained to be Dementia Friends, meaning they have learnt about the disease and know how they can provide the best support to affected clients.

Extra Help North Somerset is off to the best possible start and Katy’s really excited for the future. Although she’s always been closely connected to her local community, Extra Help is opening many new doors for her.

She says: “I’m meeting so many lovely people and, even if it doesn’t directly lead to business, it’s providing me with new and interesting ways to connect with the community I love. I’m thoroughly enjoying it and that’s what’s driving me!”

 

Services offered

Extra Help North Somerset focuses on the needs of the elderly and busy families. Home-help services include, but are not limited to:

  • Companionship – popping in, spending time or providing respite for carers
  • Domestic cleaning, tidying, laundry, and ironing
  • Shopping
  • Transport to supermarket, doctors, hospital appointments, hairdressers
  • Meal preparation
  • Household jobs
  • Spring cleaning
  • School runs and help for parents
  • Gardening and DIY
  • Assistance at social events
  • Dog walking
  • Household maintenance

 

Get in touch

If Katy’s story has inspired you and you’re interested in joining the Extra Help family, please call us for a chat on 01752 905790 to find out if your area is available. You can also visit our website for more information on our home-help franchise opportunities.