Our approach
Persistent pain is the leading cause of disability and disease burden globally (Global Burden of Disease, 2016).
Causing profound suffering to individuals, and placing unbridled demand on healthcare systems, pain is an invisible and devastating epidemic. But change is possible.
Most people’s understanding of pain is NOT the full picture. Knowing more about how pain works has been proven to change how we manage it and even how it feels.
This is why Flippin’ Pain brings a modern understanding of pain to those who need it most: combining community outreach and professional training in a range of unique, engaging and accessible ways.
-
![Two people looking into the distance.]()
28 million people in the UK have persistent pain
Source: Faculty of Pain Medicine
-
![A man looking sad holding a crystal ball. Above his head is a flag that says 'future'.]()
Rates of persistent pain are projected to increase by 40% by 2040
Source: The Health Foundation
-
![A piggy bank with coins being put in the top.]()
Those with high-impact persistent pain are twice as likely to not be in paid work
-
![A doctor's bag and stethoscope.]()
People with persistent pain visit their GP five times more often
Source: Faculty of Pain Medicine
-
![A woman looking sad, surrounded by clouds and rain.]()
65% of people with persistent pain also live with a mental health condition
Source: EFIC
-
![A man with a sweat band around his head, looking sad. Around him is a cloud.]()
For those with long term conditions, pain is the number one barrier to getting active
Source: We Are Undefeatable
-
![A doctor and a nurse looking serious.]()
86% of surveyed professionals see people in pain at least once a week
Source: Flippin’ Pain
-
![A shining lightbulb.]()
76% of the professionals we surveyed had little to no training on pain
Source: Flippin’ Pain
-
![A pill bottle that's pushed open, with pills spilling out.]()
There were 40 million prescriptions for opioids in 21/22
Source: NHSBSA
-
![A woman holding her elbow, looking in pain. Underneath her is a star that says, 'Pain!'.]()
Persistent pain is the number one cause of years lived with disability
Source: Global Burden of Disease
-
![A torso x-ray.]()
Lower back pain alone costs £10 billion to the UK economy
Source: British Pain Society
-
![A man looking sad, with an illustrated star with its arms around him.]()
12% of UK adults have significantly disabling persistent pain
Source: Faculty of Pain Medicine
-
![A roadwork barrier.]()
People in the most disadvantaged areas are twice as likely to be affected
Source: Arthritis UK
Our purpose
Most people’s understanding of pain is NOT the full picture. Knowing more about how pain works has been proven to change how we manage it, and even how it feels. That’s why Flippin’ Pain is here to help.
We design events, activities, and resources to 'flip' the way whole systems think about, talk about, and treat persistent pain.
Patients and the public are empowered, and more likely to seek out active, guideline-based care. Health professionals develop the skills and confidence to deliver better outcomes.
Our offer
We design and deliver interventions both independently and in multi-stakeholder collaboration (to achieve greater and more sustainable impact).
We can support you to engage, educate and empower whole systems with a new understanding of how pain works and how to manage it.
Public Education
-
Our signature 90-minute event, introducing the lesser-known science of pain and its relevance to the management of persistent pain and other long-termconditions. The event features an entertaining, educational talk, followed by an interactive Q&A with an expert panel (including people with lived experience of persistent pain and specialist health professionals).
Who is it for? This event can be delivered directly to public/patient audiences. It’s also appropriate for anyone involved in supporting people affected by persistent pain.
-
Why We Hurt is a digital programme designed to make a modern understanding of pain and pain management relevant and accessible to those affected by it.
Our interactive platform uses videos, downloadable resources and tasks to help people combat the myths around persistent pain. With 100% co-created content designed by experts, Why We Hurt outlines the rationale for guideline-based management approaches. It can be completed at any time at any pace.
Who is it for? Why We Hurt is appropriate for anyone, but especially those personally impacted by pain. The platform works as a stand-alone or ahead of/alongside a service pathway or other form of care (e.g. primary care).
-
A jam-packed, week-long spectacle of community outreach and engagement, bringing together an array of campaign events and activities to multiple locations across a region. Tours include media placement, charity fundraising, multi-stakeholder collaboration, leading national experts, and research-led impact evaluation.
Watch the video below of our last Community Outreach Tour: which led to our Gold HSJ Partnership Award in the category of Most Impactful Partnership in Preventative Healthcare.
Who is it for? This is a population health approach for a whole region. It’s about bringing improved messaging about chronic pain to as many people as possible in ways that are accessible and relevant to them. Min 6-month lead time required.
Professional Training
-
An interactive and entertaining look at modern pain science and the implications for people working in healthcare systems. We explore common myths and misconceptions about pain, review some of the latest understanding of pain science and explore relevance for those who have daily encounters with people affected by persistent (chronic) pain. Attendees also hear first-hand about the challenges of living with pain from lived experience speakers.
Who is it for? Health and care professionals of all kinds, as well as those in non-clinical healthcare roles, physical activity promotion, or in the leisure and wellness sector.
-
A multi-day course supporting teams to become ‘painfluencers’, able to explain pain science education to others. Sessions are a deep dive into the principles behind Flippin’ Pain, supporting teams to embed expertise, creating improved capacity and sustainability.
Who is it for? Professionals of all kinds who could benefit from a comprehensive understanding of pain. The Painfluencer Programme works best for small groups (up to 10 people), but can flex to accommodate bigger teams.
Engagement & Awareness
-
Specialist co-ordination of advertising, PR and in-situ awareness-raising for a local area or targeted audience. Totally bespoke and scalable, Flippin’ Pain awareness campaigns involve combining insight with quirk to create a splash. Like all of our work, campaigns are developed with the support of people with lived experience of pain and with accessibility in mind.
Who is it for? Audiences of any size or demographic.
-
A co-created itinerary, incorporating Flippin’ Pain public and/or professional events, as well as public engagement via Flippin’ Pain’s pop-up Brain Bus Experience. This can be delivered in targeted community locations, can work independently or in conjunction with existing local events.
Who is it for? Each roadshow can be tailored to a mix of audiences, including options to target specific groups.
-
Facilitating peer-to-peer networks within local communities, Flippin Pain Together is a pain café approach building on the excellent and pioneering work of Cornwall Connected by Pain. Together sessions drawn on Flippin’ Pain’s brand presence, credibility, and network of professional and lived-experience expertise. Sessions will consist of semi-structured, informal (drop-in) meetings in community venues. Desired outcomes and target demographics may vary between locations, but will have the overarching aim of building (largely peer-led) capacity and support, centred around accurate and positive messaging.
Who is it for? Members of local communities looking for non-clinical peer support, facilitated by Flippin’ Pain.
Endorsed by
