Our first workshop of 2025 is an introduction to block printing with the amazing Katie Waggett.
Katie came to the Centre in November of last year to conduct our very own workshop with the people that we support to create personalised cushion covers for their families for Christmas. Katie was just incredible! Patient, kind, insightful!
So it is only right that our first workshop this year is with Katie. This is your opportunity to raise funds for a great cause whilst doing something creative and fun. The timing is such that you could create something for Mother’s Day, or just do something for fun. You can choose from a tea towel, cushion cover, scarf or napkins.
We are so excited to announce that we are hosting a very special music event taking place on 23rd November at the newly renovated Bottle and Glass Barn.
If you are looking for an epic night out, full of singing dancing and joy then you are in the right place and this evening will bring you so much more. By purchasing a ticket you are directly funding the incredible, vital and diverse care and support that the Chiltern Centre provides.
The evening main artist is the incredible ADAM ISAAC! If you are not familiar with Adam already, where have you been?!
Adam is a truly multi-talented artist. He is a musician, performer, entertainer, singer and songwriter and a master in almost every genre of music. From singing solo with nothing but his guitar and a microphone, performing amazing covers of well-known party tracks with one of his bands Bloc Off The Wall, to drum and bass mosh pit mash ups, Adam also finds time to produce his own music with his own band who will all be there to support both him and us on this wonderful evening.
Whilst Adam is all about his music, we want to delve into his personal life too. Adam is now 42 and originally from the beautiful county of Devon, where he shared a family home with his mum, dad and sister Katy. Growing up Adam was sure he was going to be a pro golfer until an injury thwarted that dream. Having had a keen ear for music and an obsession with song writing from an early age he started to focus more on his music.
Since leaving Devon for the busier, faster paced life, Adam has experienced some huge successes. Adam has appeared on the top tv talent show The Voice where he was fought over by Will.i.am and Tom Jones with them battling through name dropping to win his loyalty. Names such as Michael Jackson and Elvis Presley were thrown in to the mix!
Adam annually travels the Alps to perform at some of the most well know resorts and bars that skiing has to offer.
Despite the successes Adam is, like all of us, human. His journey behind the scenes has also seen him experience some troubling lows, from mental health issues to kidney failure.
Which ironically brings us to the exciting part of the evening. Adam is, and always has been, an open book on his life, even during the toughest of times, with regular updates, videos and social media posts on all aspects of his life in the belief that his openness, honesty and raw accounts would help and even inspire others.
Through these experiences Adam has now written an album of his own music which reflect on all of his experiences, from his move to Henley, how he coped with the his diagnosis, and life on the other side, which he has chosen to share with you. These songs have, until now, have not been shared with any audience.
On this very special evening Adam will be opening himself up to you, the audience, by inviting you to ask him anything. All you have to do is purchase your ticket. You will be prompted to submit your question prior to the check out. We do need this in advance to ensure all of the questions that are chosen are suitable for a live audience.
Should yours be one of the lucky questions chosen, you will be asking your questions to Adam personally on the night.
Adam and his band are not the only stars of the show. We also have the amazing support of local DJ Jamie Taylor.
A firm favourite on the festival scene and having worked with some of the biggest names on the circuit, Jamie is equally at home playing intimate club nights or on a large festival stage.
Fresh from supporting Norman Jay and warming up for Basement Jaxx Jamie is also the tour DJ for Funk Soul supergroup Brother Strut.
Your ticket also includes a welcome drink and snack from the Bottle and Glass.
We are often considered by the Nettlebed Art Society as one of their charities of the year, and on several occasions have benefitted from their generosity, for which we are truly grateful.
For this years show they have gone one better!
Not only are we one of their chosen charities and therefore we will benefit from the proceeds of the show, they have invited two of the people we support to display their pieces alongside some true local talent.
Each young person we support has their own unique range of needs and wishes and we strive to empower them to lean new skills, build greater independence, make friends and have fun. We help them to gain confidence and self-esteem and experience greater joy in their lives. So we are thrilled that they will be able to see their own artwork alongside the professionals.
To see the cavasses they have created you will have to pop along to the show.
Nettlebed School and Community Hall, High Street, Nettlebed.
On 5th July, both the men’s and ladies captains of Badgemore Gold Club decided to set off on a crazy challenge to complete 4 golf courses in one day for their chosen charities, The Chiltern Centre and Cure Usher Syndrome.
In order to complete the whopping 72 holes in one day our daring participants Sandy Johnsson and Melvyn Keen, supported by our very own David Haddock, set off on the course at Badgemore at 4.30am.
After all the glorious weather we have had of late they were not at all lucky on the day with rain hampering their progress for most of the day.
The duo headed to Mapledurham and The Springs before returning to Badgemore around 3pm to complete the course for a second time.
Finally, at around 7pm the last balls were hit, the final 4 was called and the pair managed to get a large drink and a well earned rest.
They have raised over £1,500 for their charities and we are beyond grateful for their continued and unwavering support.
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!
Vana Farm is a beautiful, small, mixed farm on the Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire border.
Theyprovide 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
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 thePark 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 theirnon-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…!
