Keswick’s ground-breaking rehabilitation centre for people with brain injuries is in the running for a prestigious national award.
Reconnections, part of the Lake District Calvert Trust, has been shortlisted for Rehab Provider of the Year at the Personal Injury Awards 2022.
The Personal Injury Awards are the pinnacle of professional excellence, showcasing the best and brightest the sector has to offer.
The event has been honouring excellence within the personal injury sector for 15 years and it is a superb achievement to be recognised as a finalist.
Claire Appleton, head of service at Reconnections, said: “We are absolutely thrilled to be shortlisted for this award. Since opening our doors in June 2020, Reconnections has delivered life-changing outcomes for ABI survivors. We are delighted this has been recognised by the judges.”
Reconnections released its first clinical outcomes report in May 2022.
The findings were as follows:
- 100% of participants improved their ability to carry out everyday activities.
- 100% of participants needed less support when they were discharged and 60% have progressed onto independent living.
- 100% of participants reported an improved hope for the future and an improved sense of purpose and direction in their life.
- 90% of participants achieved their goals.
- 80% of participants felt more empowered through greater participation and control over decisions that affect their lives.
Participants at Reconnections are proud of their life-changing achievements at the centre.
Sam, 29, said his three-month stay at Reconnections gave him the skills and confidence to live independently again after he was involved in a collision five years ago.
Sam’s rehabilitation plan included functional and outdoor activities including walking, bike riding, climbing, canoeing and kayaking, uniquely integrated with clinical therapy. By completing meaningful tasks, from concept to completion, in a real world-setting he was actively involved in the planning and decision-making aspects of his programme.
After initially living in the main Reconnections building, which has eight bedrooms and a range of facilities, Sam moved into one of the centre’s two independent living flats.
“Being able to live independently at Reconnections gave me so much more confidence,” said Sam. “I knew support was always on hand and it moved my recovery on to a whole new level. It was also good to improve my cooking skills!”
Since leaving Reconnections, Sam has moved into his own home as his recovery continues.
“Reconnections has given me the confidence and skills to live a normal life again,” he added. “I’ve got so much more self-belief.”
Sam’s Mum, Sally, says her son’s progress at Reconnections exceeded their expectations.
“Sam had been at home with us for a year through lockdown because he wasn’t coping at his previous rehabilitation centre,” explained Sally.
“After past experiences, he was sceptical about the benefits of rehabilitation but he progressed really well at Reconnections through a rehabilitation plan integrating functional and outdoor activities with clinical therapy.
“By way of example, one of the biggest influences on Sam’s confidence and independence was enabling him to build up to using public transport independently when he did some voluntary work.
“Reconnections is also more like a home than a hospital, which sets it apart from other brain injury rehab units.”
