A City of Glasgow College student entrepreneur has been awarded £5000 after being inspired by her health battle with ME to launch a complementary therapies business.

Saffron Mullen, from Johnstone, has launched Crocus Healing, which offers therapies such as Swedish massage, aromatherapy massage and reflexology, alongside stress management and lifestyle advice. A successful application to The John Mather Trust has yielded a grant of £5000 that Saffron has used to purchase a new car so she can widen her reach and offer her services in more locations.

Working out of a base at The Soul Sanctuary, Avondale Drive, Paisley, Saffron can now cover Renfrewshire, Glasgow and parts of Ayrshire thanks to the funding.

She said: “I began treating clients from premises in Paisley but couldn’t move forward with my business until I had extra finance.

“My main problem was transport as I had a 16-year-old car that was falling apart. I wanted to be more mobile and take my business to work places, local charities and support groups for example. I hope to educate people and help them realise they can be more responsible for their illnesses and ailments.”

The 34-year-old former dental nurse, who attended St. Cuthbert’s High School and completed an HND in Complementary Therapies at City of Glasgow College, was diagnosed with ME four years ago and found it hard to hold down a full time job.

“I couldn’t work for about a year after being diagnosed. I wasn’t completely housebound but I could hardly move around without feeling like I was going to collapse. From there I decided to do some research. I didn’t think just about pharmaceutical methods. I thought it was a sign that my lifestyle would have to change.

“I found it astonishing that the way our culture deals with illness is to just go to the doctor to look for answers. There is a lot to be said for ancient healing medicines that try to treat the entire body and mind. I had quite a bit of aromatherapy that helped me, though I did need medical intervention as well, so it’s important that people don’t shun medicine.

“I want to use my own experiences to attract the kind of clients that are looking for help to recover from chronic illness. I have come on leaps and bounds and am much more able to maintain my health now.”

Rachel Pooley, Careers Advisor at City of Glasgow College, said: “The funding from The John Mather Trust was open to all students at the college, and Saffron was one of 20 to submit business plans. Along with several other students, she spent a weekend away doing personal and business development and two full days’ training by Princes Trust and marketing training.

“Her detailed business plan and video pitch impressed the judges to the extent that she has been awarded some money to help her already-exciting business evolve even more.”