The health benefits of listening to and experiencing music are well know. Research has shown that music can reduce anxiety, blood pressure, and pain as well as improve sleep quality, mood, mental alertness, and memory.

Here at The Chiltern Centre, music plays a huge part in our everyday activities. From the simplicity of having the radio playing at the Centre (Heart is our favourite station, but other stations are available!) to our specialised one-to-one music therapy sessions, we understand how beneficial to everyones health music can be.

One-to-one music therapy sessions allow each of our young adults an individualised approach and sensory experience to their session. A wide range of musical styles and instruments can be used, and the music can often be improvised. Using music in this way enables our young adults to create their own unique musical language in which to connect with the world and express themselves. Music Therapy is particularly effective for those who have difficulty communicating verbally. The benefits really are endless!

Everyone has the ability to respond to music, and Music Therapy uses this connection to create positive changes in emotional wellbeing and communication through the engagement in live musical interaction. It can help develop communication skills, improve self-confidence and independence, enhance self-awareness and awareness of others as well as improve concentration and attention skills.

Every Tuesday, the team at The Chiltern Centre head to OXSRAD for the day to enjoy an exercise dance class followed by a game of Boccia. Boccia (pronounced ‘Bot-cha’) is a precision target sport played indoors with soft leather balls, and has similarities in rules to bowls. It is a sport of tactics and skill designed especially for athletes with high support needs. Participants must aim to get their ball as close as possible to the ‘jack’ ball.

Boccia is a Paralympic sport with several classifications:

BC1 – Players with Cerebral Palsy who are able to use their hands or feet to consistently propel a ball into play. BC1 athletes may have an aide on court to pass them their ball before each shot
BC2 – Players with Cerebral Palsy who are able to use their hands to consistently propel a ball into play and have greater functional ability than a BC1 athlete
BC3 – Players with Cerebral Palsy or other disability with locomotor dysfunction in all four limbs who are unable to throw or kick a ball into play and as such are permitted to use an assistive device such as a ramp to propel the ball into play and are supported by an assistant (‘ramper’)
BC4 – Players who do not have Cerebral Palsy but have another disability with locomotor dysfunction in all four limbs and have similar functional ability to BC2 athletes. Disabilities such as Muscular Dystrophy and Tetraplegia will fall under this classification.

With all of the practice that the Chiltern Centre gets, we’ll be on our way to representing Team GB in 2024!

Thanks to Boccia UK for the information. How well do you know your Paralympic sports?!

Vana Farm is a beautiful, small, mixed farm on the Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire border. 

They provide activities, work experience and support for people with learning disabilities, autism and mental health issues from the age of 14 years old.

Alongside raising chickens, ducks, sheep, goats and pigs, they have a large kitchen garden for growing organic fruit, vegetables and herbs and a kitchen for cooking classes and craft clubs. 

The small friendly team at the farm gently nurture, encourage and teach trainees valuable life skills. It is a place where our young people gain a work ethic, purpose, sense of belonging and feelings of accomplishment.

The invaluable experience is essential for our young adults at The Chiltern Centre who, each week, can learn practical life skills which will help them in gaining job opportunities going forward, and also the transition into supported living.

These visits also provide many physical benefits including: physical fitness and stamina, practical farming and gardening skills, developing fine motor skills, manual dexterity and coordination.

The emotional benefits such as reducing feelings of depression, anger, anxiety and isolation, working together as a team, developing communication and interpersonal skills and feeling joy, freedom in the countryside and love for the animals – are beyond comparison

Check out the smiles from our recent visit here!

Hydrotherapy, is a type of therapy that uses water-based exercises to help improve an individual’s physical functions and overall wellbeing. The buoyancy and warmth of the water makes it easier for young people with restricted movement to move more effectively and safely.

Each week young people from the Centre drive over to the Park House where they have access to a private, warm water pool and can enjoy the process of therapy in the water.

The benefits of exercise on both physical and emotional health are well reported and understood. Yet according to Public Health England, disabled people are twice as likely to be inactive as their non-disabled peers. It is essential therefore that young people with disabilities have access to activities that get them enthused about being active and exercising their body.

Hydrotherapy is one of those activities. It is both invigorating and relaxing – some of our young people rest and recuperate in the water whilst others take great joy in moving freely and without pain. Overall, hydrotherapy results in a reduction in pain, improved stamina and muscle strength and an increase in sense of self worth and self esteem. It’s importance for the young people who use it really can not be underestimated

It is always such a joy when Inclusion Unlimited come into the Chiltern Centre. Inclusion Unlimited provides community events, residential sessions and 1:1 activities and aquaplane for people with additional and complex needs. They come in and provide a range of incredible, creative and uplifting activities and they are always met with big smiles and huge enthusiasm.

Take a look at some of the wonderful activities at a recent session. It’s amazing how it’s possible to feel transformed to another world by stimulating different senses.

Buddies group always have so much fun getting out and about and doing the things they love. One activity that is becoming a firm favourite is a trip to our friends at ADVHQ gym in Henley.

It is an absolute privilege to have exclusive use of all the facilities and the total dedication of the ADVHQ team. We all love having the chance to use the equipment and prioritise movement and health. Although we do sometimes wonder whether the muscles that get flexed the most at these sessions are the ones involved in laughing…!