At Hobbs Rehabilitation at Chedington, rehabilitation does not stop at the clinic doors.
While hands-on, specialist neurological therapy remains a cornerstone of our approach, our neurological rehabilitation reaches beyond structured, traditional sessions. We embed community-based and activity-led rehabilitation into our treatment programmes to empower adults and children to rebuild their confidence, rediscover enjoyment of daily life, and improve their functional ability to achieve everyday tasks and return to their sports and hobbies.
This approach is offered across all Hobbs locations, but our facility located on Chedington Estate plays a particularly special role as a hub for real-life rehabilitation. Nestled in the Dorset countryside, it provides the perfect environment for safe exploration, creative therapy, and progressive re-engagement with life beyond the clinic.
“A new era in rehabilitation dawns at Chedington and we are excited to deliver the clinical excellence for which Hobbs is known, along with the chance for our clients to explore life beyond the clinic. We have perfected the art of ‘sneaky rehab’ – our multidisciplinary team love the challenge of covertly achieving tangible results while the client is busy enjoying their own challenges of staying on their paddleboard or going for a pint at the pub – it’s a win-win” Kirsti Pretty, Strategic Director – Hobbs Rehabilitation
A Holistic Approach to Recovery
Our Chedington facility includes the recently dedicated Nicky Ellis Therapy Barn, named in loving memory of our inspirational co-founder. This space symbolises everything we strive for: combining clinical excellence, state-of-the-art neurotechnology, and a supportive, restorative environment.
We encourage each individual we see to reach their full rehabilitation potential, not just within the therapy room, but with the goal of supporting their transition back into their daily routines.
Whether it’s returning to a favourite hobby (such as painting, playing football, water-sports, outdoor pursuits, socialising with friends), learning a new skill, or overcoming challenges around mobility and independence, the focus is on building long-term functional and cognitive resilience and confidence.
Activities at Chedington
We offer a wide range of practical, creative, and adventurous activities, both on-site and in the community, designed to support different aspects of our clients’ neurological, amputee or trauma rehabilitation.
Outdoor & Adventure Activities include:
- Boat and beach trips
- Adaptive paddleboarding
- Woodland camping & countryside exploration
- Gardening
- Rock-climbing (external)
- Horse-riding
- Adaptive biking
- Tennis
- Pilates/yoga
Encouraging our clients to take part in outdoor activities offers a truly exceptional opportunity to improve core strength, balance, posture, and coordination, all while building confidence, perseverance, and real-world navigation skills in an exciting and engaging environment.
These activities are fully adaptable, allowing each person to participate at their own pace, in line with their goals and rehabilitation needs.
Creative & Therapeutic Activities include:
- Art therapy
- Music therapy
- Cooking
- Hydrotherapy pool activities (including adaptive paddleboarding)
Our creative and therapeutic activities support our clients to explore imagination, self-expression, and independence. These sessions are also highly effective in enhancing coordination, fine motor skills, and promoting positive well-being.
Accommodation:
Accommodation for clients, carers, family and friends is available, enabling whole families to stay together. Involving families, and our clients’ wider network, in the rehabilitation journey not only strengthens communication and understanding, it delivers improved outcomes from the shared experiences. Outings to the beach, dog walks across the estate, family cooking sessions, and more are all possible, enriching the rehabilitation journey and helping to unify an often fractured family dynamic.
Here’s what one of our clients’, Danny, shared:
“From the moment we arrived, it felt like something meaningful was about to happen. And it did. You didn’t just provide care, you gave us time, respect, opportunity, and space to grow — physically and mentally.
Geoffrey, thank you for having the vision to build something like Chedington. You’ve not only created a space for recovery and peace, but you’ve brought in people who make it all work — the right people. You’ve built something real, and it shows.
To Regain — Ivan, Calum, and Dom — thank you for helping me out of the shell I didn’t even realise I was still stuck in. Whether you meant to or not, you showed me that life after injury doesn’t have to be about fear or holding back. It can be about pushing forward, connecting, challenging myself, and being useful again — especially to others in similar situations. Sometimes a kind message or seeing someone else’s spark come back to life is worth more than a salary, and I think that’s the direction I want to go in now. So thank you for helping me see that.
To the Hobbs Rehab Team — Becky, Sarah, Katie and Brad, your motivation, skill, and energy made the whole week. You gave me tools I can take home with me — breathing techniques, physio routines, advice on positioning — all of it’s already making a difference. The StandEasy Evolve let me stand tall again. I didn’t realise how much I’d missed that. There was no blood pressure drop, no dysreflexia. Just calm. Just clarity.
And then there was Weymouth Beach. Being lifted out of my chair and onto a beanbag on the sand, surrounded by thousands of people… That was something else. I won’t lie, it was terrifying at first. But it was also exciting. Vulnerable, yes — but safe. Freeing. I’m glad you pushed me. I’m glad you didn’t listen to the hesitation. I needed that push, and I won’t forget it.
Bridie’s painting session opened up a whole other part of me. Sitting and learning how to paint again, using my mouth, learning from someone so experienced — that lit a spark. I’m already setting things up at home so I can carry it on. It gave me back something I didn’t know I’d lost.
Emma, thank you. Your food was incredible. Every plate felt like a show of love. Sometimes the portions were more than I could manage, but that’s only because they were so generous and so good. You made us all feel welcome and special.
Colin, one of the real highlights was spending time with you. The trip to Sculpture by the Lakes, the tour, the food, the chats — that whole day felt calm, easy, and full of meaning. I learnt a lot just listening to you — about nature, landscaping, and the future of Chedington. You made me think about things in a new way. And then later in the week, I got to visit the stables with Brad, meet Moses and Mia, and take part in more equine therapy. That connection to animals, the land, and the environment around me — it was one of the most powerful parts of the week. It reminded me how important our surroundings are when we’re trying to heal.
Watching my mum relax and enjoy herself — whether in the gym, on the walks, or just being included — that meant the world. She’s given everything to support me, and seeing her get something back made it all the more special.
This week has changed me. It really has. You’ve helped me find a different way of seeing the road ahead — not with dread or doubt, but with a bit of fire again. With resilience, purpose, and a reason to push forward. And most of all, you reminded me that I’m not alone. I’m part of something.
Thank you all — for your time, your effort, your belief, and your kindness. I hope this won’t be the last time our paths cross.”
Paediatric Therapy
Functional therapy at Chedington isn’t just for adults, our young clients benefit from the same specialist approach, with many of the activities and rehabilitation facilities already mentioned tailored to suit their needs, and more beyond. Among these is the UK’s first adult and paediatric LokomatPro Sensation, from Summit Medical and Scientific, an advanced robotic treadmill system, ensuring that our approach to paediatric neurological and amputee rehabilitation is never limited.
Importantly, many of these functional activities also encourage family involvement. Whether it’s tackling our outdoor obstacle course together, or sharing time in nature, we design experiences that support not just physical recovery, but confidence and connection with loved ones.
“Chedington offers our paediatric patients the chance to engage in a wide range of therapies and activities. These are often a welcome break to their routine treatments and complement the hard work that they and their local teams do on a daily basis.
We have access to much of the neurotech equipment in the therapy area and both the hydrotherapy and leisure pool. We are lucky enough to be surrounded by hundreds of acres of rolling countryside which has been made accessible to those with extra needs by the addition of miles of bark chip pathways so clients can become completely immersed in nature. We are also in the process of creating a fully accessible bushcraft area with a firepit to allow campout style sessions with wilderness skills and crafts.
Clients can stay on site with their families and incorporate any or all of these activities and therapies into their schedule whilst also feeling like they are spending quality time away from home.” – Kate Harvey, Specialist Paediatric Physiotherapist – Hobbs Rehabilitation
Why These Activities Matter
Our ‘life beyond the clinic’ approach is designed to support individuals with neurological conditions, whose daily routines have been significantly impacted, helping them reintegrate into everyday life.
The activities offered at Hobbs Rehabilitation at Chedington promote the real-life application of therapy goals, boost confidence and independence, and help clients reconnect with themselves and the wider community. The purpose of integrating activity-based functional rehabilitation with our wider therapy approach is to support a smoother, more seamless transition from structured rehabilitation back into everyday life.
If you’re interested in learning more about Hobbs Rehabilitation at Chedington, or would like to make an enquiry, please contact us here.
