Movement skills can easily be taken for granted. Developing and maintaining movement skills require practice. At Corbenic, both the Horse Workshop and the Walking groups promote intentional movement. In Farm, Estate and Garden Workshops, tasks such as wheelbarrow work help maintain balance skills. In Craft, Pottery and Woodwork, fine motor skills are developed.

How many of us remember learning to ride a bicycle? Getting the coordination right is at first difficult, but once mastered, it requires no further thought. We just do it.

Mastering a movement, be it dance or playing an instrument or sport or craft, is one of life’s most satisfying achievement.

At Corbenic, within the Houses, Day Service and Workshops, everyone is encouraged to participate. Activities have meaning and intention. Most of the workshops have tangible outputs – pots, artworks, furniture, signs, sculptures, plants and paths.

By working with clay, wood or gardening tools, motor skills can be developed. By unlocking the potential to master movement-based skills, individuals achieve meaning and purpose. In addition their skills help support the community.

Two activities, Horse Workshop and Walking, have less tangible outputs but these activities help develop balance and motor control.

The walking groups allow participants to be challenged and therefore have to problem solve to negotiate new terrain. This is aided by being able to observe how more experienced participants negotiate an obstacle. However the solution is not prescribed. Participants are encouraged to find the solution that best suits them. So whilst some may go over a fallen tree, others may choose to go under!

Leading or riding requires awareness of both one’s own movement and that of the horse. The action of leading or riding allows participants to progress movement. In some instances individuals, whose usual movement is atypical, move with better form and purpose.

Farm, Estate and Garden Workshops harness this improved movement form through the use of wheelbarrows. A wheelbarrow requires greater use of core muscles to maintain balance. This improves posture as the balanced movement is symmetric – thus helping to reduce asymmetric muscle imbalances. Coupled with a clear delivery objective, wheelbarrow work is highly effective at providing meaningful work that promotes wellbeing.