April McKinney has been a staff nurse, and now complementary therapist at Strathcarron Hospice in Denny for the past 15 years helping to care for the terminally ill.

An interest in complimentary therapies led to a Higher National Unit in aromatherapy 11 years ago, followed by an ever-increasing range of beauty therapy qualifications and treatments for women of all ages.

In July 2006 April started her home-based business Hayston Health and Beauty, and aims to develop it to offer health and beauty care as individual as each client who visits, to include nutrition and exercise.

April has her own brand range of aromatherapy products such as soaps, bath and shower gels and bath bombs, and can offer these individually or in gift baskets or boxes for special occasions. These are made with high quality essential oils, grown in organic soils and they are not tested on animals.

As well as a full range of beauty treatments, April also offers wedding make-up in the comfort of your home, wedding and holiday packages, wedding favours, pamper parties and gift vouchers and she is keen to liase with local employers who wish to offer their employees a weekly or monthly health and beauty service. She is constantly updating her training to offer more and more treatments.

April is also a qualified instructor in the Massage In Schools programme and is keen to introduce this to primary schools in the surrouding area who are interested in promoting health and wellbeing to their pupils.