Virtual Reality Therapies Practitioner Training

First VR therapies centre will open in the UK.

Rebecca — Sun, 09 Feb 2020 19:28:47 +0000

It hasn’t been easy finding the right place, but if anything, the lack of truly accessible buildings motivated me even more. So here we are, nearly one year later – and it is finally happening. VR therapies will be opening our first centre in Northampton, UK, 2020. Just the year alone makes it sound so cool!! Regardless of what anyone thinks, I know 10 year old me would be so impressed! ?

I wanted to do a little photo journey of our premises, so in years to come, we can laugh at the outdated tech and bad hair-dos.

So here we are at the beginning.

This is our lovely new home. It looks like a castle!

This the day I got the keys and couldn’t stop smiling.

Here is the dance studio, which will become our hydrotherapy room.

This will be our activity room

This will be the sensory room.

This will be the waiting area, where you can chill before the session starts.

This is our office at the moment!

and this is me pointing at things! To you, it’s a blank wall, but to me, it’s going to be an amazing piece of augmented reality artwork with flying planets and dolphins swimming!

And now the journey begins.

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Please sign & support Northamptonshire charities

Rebecca — Tue, 22 Oct 2019 18:16:28 +0000

Please sign this petition for charities in Northampton.

We don’t rely on the council but so many local charities and services do. The current organisations affected by this devastating decision are:

Northamptonshire Age UK, the Autumn Centre, Catch22, Dostiyo, Glamis Hall, Marlow House, Mayday Trust, Midland Heart, Naash, Serve and ACA. There are likely more, but these are the ones who have been vocal about it. There are likely others not being heard.

These groups provide services to our most vulnerable. This is about our community, our families – and as 80% of disabilities develop later in life – this could very well be about you.

These amazing organisations cover support for

Palliative care
Dementia
Adults with disabilities
Crisis Intervention
Young people at risk
Children with special needs
Homelessness
Drug & Alcohol rehab
Transitioning from foster care or into care services
Housing
Mental Health
Learning disabilities

and sadly, so much more…

The charities most at risk seem to be for the elderly and homeless, which is even sadder. I’m already vocal about the lack of support for dementia but we have also all seen the increase in homelessness over the last few years in Northampton. With such little support as it is, what do they expect to happen to all these people when funding is withdrawn in March?

I remember volunteering at the old soup kitchen in Northampton years ago, and it broke my heart. One gentleman in his 80’s always stuck with me. Through no fault of his own he had lost his job and house, then his wife died and the flat was repossessed… but he’d still turn up in an impeccable full suit everyday and hold his hand behind his back, touchingly courteous as only his generation could be. He was one of the most polite and gentle humans I have ever met… so humble and quiet, and so deserving of a better end to his life. Or Angel, with his dreadlocks and calming quiet voice, who could soothe anyone but himself (please get in touch if you know how he is doing!)… the young guy with a brain injury, desperate to change his life, or the mother having to resort to bringing her children into a soup kitchen for breakfast before school… How can we take funding away from those who have so little???

I am so angry.

If you’re angry too or you’re still reading – then I’m likely ‘preaching to the choir’, so please do sign the petition below & support these amazing services.

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Donate old equipment to VR therapies

Rebecca — Wed, 28 Aug 2019 23:45:42 +0000

Are you that cool kid? Do you have an awesome brand spankin’ new Oculus Quest?

Or maybe brought your kids the Oculus Go only for them to break it?

Do you now have a dusty Oculus Go with useless controllers?

VR therapies is desperately in need of new equipment for us to provide local community sessions.

Every business has to manage breakfages and replacements but sadly in this new world of tech it is not that easy. For example after losing some equipment accessories lately I’ve realised how difficult it is to get spare controllers for oculus go. My only option as far as I can see if buying new controllers?

But – I know a lot of you are now neglecting your Go’s in favour of Quests…

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VR therapies on the BBC

Rebecca — Wed, 21 Aug 2019 17:44:55 +0000

This surreal experience deserves a blog post of its own.

In the most surreal exchange so far, I answered the phone to the BBC. At first I thought it was the local radio station, BBC Northants and I was happy to be invited to talk…. but then they began to ask if I was in London and if I could be there at 8 am Sunday morning, that we could film in the piazza and if you could bring some headsets so people can try the VR, and….

This is the moment where I realised what she meant by “Sunday Morning Live”…

That’s not the local radio… that’s live on the telly… on BBC1?! Turns out they are doing a segment on the positive side of games and VR, and would love to feature VR therapies.

I’m sure you’ll be surprised to hear the theme of the show was triggered by Trump’s latest ridiculous remarks regarding video games making children violent. I don’t think I really need to explain how wrong, incorrect and he himself actually incites hatred and violence, but this is not the time.

So that’s how I ended up in a hotel room on Saturday night setting up a load of VR headsets for the BBC. SURREAL.

Photos from behind the scenes!

BBC Broadcasting House

Although it was only a small segment, I am still so proud to have shown VR therapies on the BBC. Thank you so much Sarah and her family for coming along, it was great to show you and your sons VR. Sarah is also the author of the Parents Guide to Coping with Autism – check it out!

Exciting morning @bbcsml doing a wee spot on TV. pic.twitter.com/HCjkWtO9cQ
— Sarah Ziegel (@SarahJZiegel) August 11, 2019

Thank you also to the amazing Adult Cerebral Palsy Hub. It was great to show how VR can help keep people with CP active and mobile. A great charity providing specialist support, understanding and expertise.

Our morning at the @bbcsml testing virtual reality technology as a way of helping people with #CP stay #active pic.twitter.com/fBLA3vZVer
— UP - The Adult Cerebral Palsy Movement (@upmovement_cp) August 11, 2019

The episode is now available on the BBC iPlayer, but here’s some screen grabs just for your pleasure.

VR therapies was also recently awarded Community Hero of the week by the Northampton Chronicle & Echo! Although the BBC couldn’t include most of our talk, let alone discuss this award – I have created a segment for them to use at another date.

Enjoy and stay tuned!

https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=703160240128394

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Underwater VR in a hot tub??

Rebecca — Tue, 02 Jul 2019 15:32:00 +0000

LAST WEEK WAS SO EXCITING

The underwater VR headsets finally arrived! So far I’ve tested them in a hot tub and in flotation pools, with a range of underwater scenes which I’ll show you in the second video.

Here’s an un-boxing video cause apparently that’s just the done thing now.

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p3Cfu5EFTdE&w=560&h=315]

The next step was obviously to get in a hot tub…

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Ll1CZA0NBo&w=560&h=315]

Video above is of Official Research, Development & Testing Simulation

Aquatic VR no.58767436 (section B5 of the 2019 reports)

Digital Northampton recently did a case study about our adventure too. Go read it. I’m not sure why they didn’t include the photos of the emus either, but there is a horse if that helps. I will however be including photos of emus.

Special thank you to Stephen, Vanessa and her family!

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VR therapies & dementia

Rebecca — Tue, 11 Jun 2019 16:02:00 +0000

There’s been a lot in the news about the amazing benefits of VR for people with Dementia, Alzheimer’s and other similar conditions featuring memory loss. Scientists have also found an unexpected use for virtual reality headsets in helping identify people who may later develop Alzheimer’s disease.

This BBC video in particular has been really popular. An NHS pilot is seeing if VR could improve the lives of people with dementia, by taking them back in time to relive formative experiences…

Watch more below or if this video doesn’t work – click here!

It’s so odd at first, this mix of our elderly with such early innovative tech. Yet the research is coming back overwhelmingly positive and beneficial. Recently I met with Rosie Collins from The Fred Company and talked about her VR project within dementia.

We’ve begun trials using Virtual Reality experiences with the Haiderian Medical Centre in Romford, Essex, as part of their regular social events for older patients. It is being enthusiastically received and we’re building a formal programme to roll out across different surgeries across the south east and beyond, with a particular focus on dementia sufferers and their carers.

This is also forming part of a larger thematic analysis we are running over various pilots, exploring the use of VR in vulnerable, isolated or traumatised communities .

This year VR therapies also began working with Age UK across Northamptonshire. Here’s a little video about how we are helping people with dementia.

Our dementia specific VR therapies are developing and improving every week. It’s great to be making and working with so many amazing connections through Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter (please do get in touch!).

I recently met with Samsung, who are specifically interested in the growing research of VR therapies for their life insurance. So these two lovely gentlemen flew over from South Korea to discuss the benefits of VR within dementia!

P.S The photos show both their presentation and their presents – I’ve never had sweets from Korea so this was another lovely surprise.

I will also soon be releasing news about our collaboration with the University of Northampton and the amazing support of Iain Douglas to develop our first app.

I’ve been so busy I don’t even have time to get started on the amazing developments for our first VR therapies centre – make sure to follow us on all the social media for the latest updates!

I’ll leave with one of my favourite posts. I’m so lucky to be a part of this moment for so many people.

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Career VR workshop with WorkTree

Rebecca — Thu, 06 Jun 2019 18:23:53 +0000

Today VR therapies attended its first event in collaboration with WorkTree. This amazing charity, which combines over 1,500 volunteers, helps young people work out their futures by simply answering their questions about our jobs. It is inspiring to both us and them. I’m the one right next to the sign with a very pretty necklace if I do say so myself.

It’s a brilliant opportunity for kids to learn about the way they can make a difference. I’m so passionate about encouraging as many social enterprises and charities to get involved, we need to spread the word! Kids need to know that making a difference isn’t some silly dream, it’s real and it’s bloody achievable.

Photo by kat wilcox on Pexels.com

Okay I admit, it’s a lot easier if you’re the cool person who turned up with VR headsets. I’m finally popular at school!!

If you wanna be put on the spot though, get a 13 year old to quiz your life choices, salary and profession! Some kids are shy and chose the easy questions, but some kids will question the very root of your being and why you chose this life. If there’s anything that can get you to question things, it’s a kid with the million “but why?” questions.

I bloody love it.

If you can spare an hour to help shine light on the different avenues in life – that it isn’t all about GCSE’s – or connections – or Eton… That it’s about passion & determination & spirit… then go get in touch with WorkTree!

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Easy Read VR article

Rebecca — Thu, 23 May 2019 20:35:54 +0000

This great article was suggested to me by Lewis, who works with children with special needs in Northampton. It’s made by BBC newsround so it is targeted towards kids and young people – but the simplicity of this article is great for newbies too.

It talks about the different uses of VR and how it helps people. Here’s where they talk about education and therapy:

Virtual reality: Helping Manchester Arena survivors

Back when your parents were kids, VR didn’t have very good graphics, the sound wasn’t very good and it was limited to what you could actually do within the VR world. Now, it can offer a truly immersive experience and is used in lots of important ways.

Photo by Mark Neal on Pexels.com

VR field trips could soon become more common in schools and would allow virtual tours of cities or museums.

Earlier this year, students at Oxford University explored ancient Rome through virtual reality, seeing how it would’ve looked a thousand years ago.

It also means that those with disabilities or mobility issues maybe able to see places that they would otherwise face difficulty reaching.

VR can also help with mental health treatments and the NHS is looking at ways the technology can help patients.

Sometimes places have a strong connection with traumatic or upsetting events. Those places can be difficult to revisit for those affected

GETTY IMAGES Virtual reality can help people who have been injured

VR can help by gradually reintroducing victims to those places, and it has been used in this way recently to help those affected by the Manchester Arena attack.

Not only can VR help with mental health, it can help with physical health too, with the technology being used as a fun way to heal and rehabilitate people who have lost limbs or had bad injuries.

It is great to see more and more articles showing the benefits of VR & technology in improving mental & physical well-being.

P.S

They also have an amazing page to help kids and young people who are upset after the news. It gives some great advice for when the news make us feel scared or worried – which I think affects us all.

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Great British Entrepreneur Awards Nomination

Rebecca — Wed, 22 May 2019 17:43:59 +0000

Good afternoon Rebecca Gill,
I’m contacting you from the NatWest Great British Entrepreneur Awards. Congratulations, you have been nominated to enter the Awards by Sharon Rai. Each year during the application process, we reach out to our community and ask for them to nominate inspiring entrepreneurs in their network. Your nomination is a real testament to the work that you do, so congratulations again!

Now in its seventh year, the NatWest Great British Entrepreneur Awards acknowledges the hard work and inspiring stories of entrepreneurs and businesses in the United Kingdom. It celebrates the incredible stories that have taken entrepreneurs to where they are today, regardless of size or turnover. With continued support from our sponsors, the 2019 programme will see the awards held in eight cities – Birmingham, Cardiff, Glasgow, London, Manchester, Newcastle, Exeter and Belfast.

The 2019 Awards has a range of categories, catering for all industries and all sized businesses.
You were recommended to enter the following category(s):
Creative Industries
Disruptor
Entrepreneur for Good
Entrepreneurial Spirit

Thank you to Sharon Rai for the nomination and all the support from the Natwest Accelerator program!!

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UNEXPECTED INSPIRATION

Rebecca — Tue, 21 May 2019 21:34:02 +0000

I love charity shops and carboot sales, especially in little villages… I love all the old volunteers in the shops and the bad jokes from traders. I could get all poetic about the treasures you find and memories touched but I’m not a poet so I wont. Instead I am going to share some unexpected inspiration I found between a headless barbie and a suspiciously smug cindy doll. One of my goals is to create VR content which is truly accessible and therapeutic. I’m constantly buzzing with new ideas and bouncing them at whoever is front of me. So I’m constantly being inspired by random things. See exhibit A. This might appear like a boring old 90s game, and you’re right – it is. But I find it oddly inspiring. Road safety is such a big part of brain injury rehabilitation. I’ve wrote so many care plans and risk assessments for road safety, community access, safeguarding etc over the last 10 years. So bearing that in mind, I decided to look a little closer… I love how the cards change. I love how they range from crossing the road safely to not accepting lifts from strangers. This has inspired so many ideas for VR speficially designed for adults with brain injuries and learning disabilities. A lot of the current stuff is out of date and inappropriate (especially as most is designed for children like this game). With VR, we could create a number of scenes and experiences to allow people to navigate the world and its risks safely before trying it out on real roads. There are some amazing companies out there who are already working in this area. Check out this interesting article about how VR Simulation Teaches Canadian Children The Importance Of Road Safety.

According to research published by Parachute Canada, a national Canadian charity foundation dedicated to accident prevention and awareness, injuries among child pedestrians are the primary cause of injury-related deaths for Canadian youth at or under the age of 14.

“The parents tend to assume children are much more cautious than they are in fact,” says University of Guelph psychologist, Barbara Morrongiello; as reported by The Canadian Press.

In response to these ongoing safety concerns, Morrongiello and her team of researchers at the University of Guelph have begun introducing a brand new virtual reality program designed to educate children on the proper safety procedures when crossing a busy intersection. Using a VR headset to look around and a standard video game controller to move, kids are immersed in a virtual world complete with a two-lane road in which they must cross.

What’s the catch? Well, there is a hill or blind curve blocking the child’s view of oncoming traffic. Using their VR headset to lean and look around, users will have to adhere to proper road safety regulations in order to succeed.

There are so many possibilities within VR! ? The game was definitely worth a quid for the ideas I’ve now got for education, health and safety, safeguarding etc. I’m busy with designing our VR app for the new premises, but to my friends and readers with the skills & interest – please feel free to get in touch if you’re interested in collaborating. I’m building a strong network of healthcare professionals and industry experts (from education to tech), so we can make the next level of innovative VR therapies! P.s job ads will be out soon for VR therapy assistants. Watch this space!

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