A new ground-breaking neurorehabilitation centre in Keswick is set to open its doors to the public.
Calvert Reconnections, the UK’s first residential brain injury rehabilitation programme combining traditional clinical therapies with physical activity in the outdoors, will open its doors on June 21.
The centre is located at Old Windebrowe, a Grade II listed Tithebarn and one-time home of legendary Lakeland poet William Wordsworth.
After a sensitive transformation, it is now set to provide real-life rehabilitation in a real-life setting after delays caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
“We are thrilled to be opening our doors on June, 21,” said centre director, Sean Day.
“Every year in the UK, hundreds of thousands of people suffer life-changing brain injuries.
“Our pioneering rehabilitation programme will combine effective multi-disciplinary neurorehabilitation with the specialist tradition at the Calvert Trust of providing outdoor experience for people with disabilities.”
Improved mental health, outlook and wellbeing
“There is growing evidence that physical and outdoor activity promotes neuroplasticity post-brain injury whilst also improving people’s mental health, outlook and wellbeing,” continued Sean.
“We actively seek to incorporate a wide range of outdoor activities into our rehabilitation programme to achieve each participant’s identified goals.
“This may range from reflective activities such as fishing, bird watching or a nature walk to higher adventure activities such as horse riding, canoeing, rock-climbing and abseiling.
“This is closely assessed and graded to a person’s interests and functional abilities.”
Calvert Reconnections will launch its new residential service with three confirmed participants. The centre is continuing to take referrals in advance of its June opening.
Last month, the Lake District Calvert Trust announced that its accessible activity centre, Calvert Lakes, will also reopen on June 21 after a remarkable fundraising campaign.
In a normal year, Calvert Lakes welcomes thousands of visitors to its accessible activity centre, many of whom have profound disabilities.
The Lake District Calvert Trust launched its Emergency Bounce Back Appeal at the end of November having lost more than £1 million of income due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
Exceeding expectations
The response to the appeal has exceeded all expectations, raising more than £730,000.
“Thanks to the success of our Emergency Bounce Back Appeal we can now chart a course for the future,” said Giles Mounsey-Heysham, chairman of the trustees at the Lake District Calvert Trust.
“The support we have received has been absolutely incredible – and I would like to pay a personal tribute to everyone who has supported our Bounce Back Appeal.”
Calvert Lakes is currently undergoing a refurbishment programme in advance of its reopening while Calvert Stables will also be reopening its doors.
