A CHARITY has developed the country's first COVID-19 compliant brain injury rehabilitation programme.

It comes after an eminent neurologist said support has been pushed to crisis point by the outbreak.

The new neuro-rehabilitation centre, Calvert Reconnections, based at the Grade II listed Old Windebrowe tithe barn - it's run by the Lake District Calvert Trust.

It will open in September and incorporate social distancing into its programme of activities like rambling, walking, fishing, gardening, horse riding, orienteering, cycling, canoeing and sailing.

Its residential facilities are also fully compliant with Coronavirus guidelines.

Services include post lockdown respite care.

Centre director, Sean Day, said: “Our centre was already unique in that it was the UK’s first intensive acquired brain injury rehabilitation programme combining traditional interdisciplinary clinical therapies with physical activity in the outdoors.

“Since lockdown, we have further developed our programme to ensure it sets a global benchmark for brain injury rehabilitation.

"It delivers a groundbreaking, world-class rehabilitation programme tailored to support individuals in their recovery.”

The charity says that medical research has suggested that outdoor activity is beneficial to brain injury rehabilitation process.

Each programme includes personal goals, utilising evidence-based measures to monitor progress.

Professor Mike Barnes is an experienced consultant neurologist, and in rehabilitation medicine, over the last 30 years he's been dedicated to the development of neurological rehabilitation throughout the UK and internationally.

He's also an advisor to the charity.

Professor Barnes said: “This ground-breaking new programme, combining traditional interdisciplinary clinical therapies with physical activity in the outdoors, will put the UK at the forefront of brain injury rehabilitation on a global scale - because rehabilitation won’t wait.”

He said provision has been driven to crisis point by the Coronavirus with services facing disruption and closure due to social distancing, shielding requirements, lack of specialist support and funding.