Steph Wheen

Case Study

How would you like to be described?

Empathetic, honest and passionate. I would love it if people thought that I am making a difference to people’s lives through hard work but would also like to be thought of as enjoying every minute and loving life!

How would you describe what you do?

I am a physiotherapist for children with disabilities and also run a charity called Gympanzees – providing play and exercise for children and young people with disabilities and taking their families out of isolation. We are a very tight knit team and all work together so my role is a leadership one – motivating and guiding our brilliant staff to doing their best to help make our vision of opening a dedicated fully inclusive leisure complex a reality.

What is your greatest achievement?

Bringing a team together to put on 3 successful Pop Up inclusive leisure facilities over 58 days with almost 4000 children coming from around the South West of England.

What was the cause or ’trigger for this journey of making the world a better place through being useful and kind? And how old were you? When did you realise you could make a difference?

I started training as a physio at university at 19, started working with children with disabilities at 22 and started my own private physio practice at 30. I loved this work and could see the impact it was making on my clients and their families but was limited in the number of people I could see per week. I started thinking if my clients could exercise in the community then they may be able to come to me less often and I could see more people. It was then, aged 36, that I realised there just weren’t the facilities for exercise for all disabled children so thought maybe I should set one up. I never planned to become the head of a charity or to involve myself in something this ambitious (the first centre is due to cost £8million) but once I decided to try to make a difference, it all just happened.

Was it something your parents are/would have been proud of and encouraged?

My parents are both very traditional and were keen for me to stay in the NHS as it is more stable so when I started my physio practice they weren’t too encouraging. However, as soon as they started getting used to the idea and seeing that I was getting clients and I would be OK they became the biggest supporters. When I told them about my idea for Gympanzees they were equally dubious but, as they watched our successes and visited the first Pop Up, they once again became the biggest supporters and are now so proud that they end up telling random people about what we are doing and couldn’t be more proud or supportive. Sometimes people who know you best may not be fully aware of what you can accomplish so you need to believe in your dream and wait for them to catch up!!

Who or what were your early influences?

I didn’t really have anyone that I aspired to be. I wanted to be the best I could be and was competitive with myself. I had some brilliant physios whom I respected in the NHS but once I came out of the NHS I didn’t know any others doing what I was doing so just tried to do the best I could do. Since starting Gympanzees I have come to know and respect a huge breadth of amazing people but I think I get most inspired by my team and some of the incredible families I know through physio or have met since doing Gympanzees.

What were you doing at 16?

I was at school. I worked really hard at school. I have 5 brothers and sisters and my way of getting noticed was to work hard.

What advice would you give your 16 year old self?

Have more fun! However I am also really grateful that I was as driven as I was when I was younger as I think it put me in good stead for where I am now!

What advice would you give to other young people?

Being happy in your career will make a huge difference in your life. However, I have met a huge number of business leaders in the last few years and the common thread of satisfaction in their lives comes from when they know their work is doing good. Whether it is for the environment, for vulnerable groups, producing amazing tech that helps people or just being really kind and thoughtful with their employees. There is nothing which will give you the lasting feeling of happiness and satisfaction better than helping others.

What has been the most difficult challenge on the way and how did you overcome it? 

The whole process has been a challenge as I started with no idea of what I was doing and still am feeling my way through an unknown world.  However, my way to get through this has been to speak to people or read endless books to learn from people who know what they are talking about. When I have a problem, I speak to someone or discuss it and there is ALWAYS a solution so that it is just a rollarcoaster of challenges and solutions. COVID is an example. We had to change our whole service to adapt but the team were up for it, I spoke to several mentors and we managed to come up with solutions.

What do you think are the changes we need to see in the world and how can being U&K help solve those things?

I once heard someone say ‘you can’t help everyone but everyone can help someone’. It only takes everyone doing tiny bits and we could revolutionise the world.

How are you useful and kind to yourself - what helps and hinders?

Taking time out for friends and family is crucial. As is doing regular exercise, although there are times I’m not so good at that – when we are in a crisis or there is a lot on, work always takes priority. It is definitely easier to discipline myself to work than to play which is something I am trying to work on!

How are you both useful and kind to others (the easy ones and those who are more difficult to be U&K to)?         

I try to be useful and kind to friends and family – I don't have children so have more time on my hands than they do so try to be generous with my time when they need help.

I have also had so much help and generosity from business leaders that I make a big effort to give my time to others who are starting the journey I am on.

What is your biggest challenge in the future?

We will see!! I live by the mantra – ‘everything will be alright in the end, and if it isn’t alright, you haven’t got to the end yet’ so challenges are just that and are always surmountable!

What do you wish you had done differently?

I wish I had learnt to prioritise my family and friends better in the beginning of this Gympanzees journey. I once heard a very successful woman speak saying she made ‘to do’ lists for her work, her home and herself and she treated all three with equal importance. I prioritise work and then get to the other 2 when I get a chance and I think that is a bad habit I have yet to break. Life goes by sooooo quickly and all three are equally important!