A wellbeing centre is opening in Worthing this month after a successful crowdfunding campaign exceeded its £3,000 target.

Laroma Therapies, owned by Lauren Vaughn and her husband Alex, is an “all-round wellbeing centre” specialising in complementary health treatments and is holding an open day on December 5 at its new premises in Buckingham Road, Worthing.

Lauren set up her business nine years ago aged 19, renting a number of premises in Worthing. With the new shop, she can offer a wider range of treatments due to high demand, and the qualified beautician will also be able to train others at the premises. It will also be a complementary massage teaching school.

Back in August, Lauren and Alex launched the crowdfunding campaign, asking for help to pay for materials. A target of £3,000 by September 4 was set, and by the deadline £3,315 had been raised. Donors will be treated to a gift card for their generosity.

“I’ve been overwhelmed by the response,” says Lauren. “We have built four treatment rooms where we will be working with other complementary therapists who have the same passion for helping clients as we do.

“The business began by working in dementia homes and it was so rewarding seeing the benefits and how much the residents appreciated my treatments. Some of my clients were bed bound so to be able to brighten their day with a hand massage or nails painted was just magical.

“I knew then I wanted to help people with complementary health treatments for life and developed my knowledge more into massage and holistic treatments. Laroma has grown with me as a person. It’s my passion.”

She has been joined by her husband Alex, who combines his day job as an HGV driver with being a qualified masseuse, treating Lauren for the past seven years for a back problem, and she is now training him in other complementary massages. “He has the healing touch,” says Lauren. The couple, who met six months before Laroma began, married in 2013 and honeymooned in Thailand, bringing back new treatments from each country they visit.

“We have decided as a team we can conquer anything, as we have done throughout our lives,” says Lauren. “This is so exciting for us to be going into business as husband and wife, and we are so happy to be going on another adventure, delivering treatments, both mentally and physically.

“We are expanding Laroma so we can help many more clients and provide a place of peace and relaxation that our town would highly benefit from.

“Customers will be able to relax both their body and mind, reconnecting their daily lives to their true purpose through a wide range of holistic, massage, beauty and other complementary therapies.

“Laroma is a soothing setting where customers can enjoy being pampered and escape the stresses of life. When people are relaxed, comfortable and happy, they have the ability to work harder. They also concentrate better, feel physically, emotionally and mentally more balanced. Here at Laroma Therapies we want to give clients that happiness back into their homes, workplaces and community.”

Support for the new business has come from friends, businesses in Worthing and national companies including Co-Op, Tesco, B&Q, Dulux and Wickes. “We have teamed up with local businesses in return for treatments,” explains Lauren. “It’s about working with other people and forging those relationships.

• Laroma Therapies holds an Open Day on Saturday December 5 at its new premises at 15 Buckingham Road, Worthing BN11 1TH. Phone 01903 201104 or visit massage-worthing.co.uk.