Kylie Grimes MBE, Paralympic Gold Medallist and Neurokinex patron, spoke movingly at the official opening of the dedicated paediatric space at Neurokinex Bristol in February 2026.
As a Neurokinex client, who spent many years training at the Bristol site, Kylie knows first-hand the power of the team’s optimism and their belief that real, meaningful progress is possible. She was keen to highlight that children are not just small adults: specific paediatric protocols are key to success as their growing bodies and brains develop rapidly and shape their future.
Here is Kylie’s impact speech – please take a few moments to read how much she values the charity, its rehab protocols, trainers and community.
“It was an honour to speak at the opening of the dedicated kids’ space at Neurokinex Bristol in February 2026. This is something that deeply matters to me – the role of Neurokinex and the incredible difference this specialist rehab centre makes to the lives of individuals, families and our wider community.
“When someone experiences a life-changing neurological injury or illness, the road to recovery doesn’t end when they leave the hospital. In fact, for many families, that’s just the beginning of a long and often overwhelming chapter. Hospitals play a critical role in saving and stabilising lives – but they simply aren’t designed to support long-term rehabilitation. That’s where Neurokinex steps in.
Importance of community rehab
“The importance of having specialist rehab in our community cannot be overstated. When a loved one returns home after discharge, families often find themselves navigating an unfamiliar world of ongoing care, equipment, routines and unpredictable progress. Without support, it’s easy to feel isolated and exhausted. Neurokinex fills that gap. It provides a lifeline. A place where people don’t just exist in the aftermath of injury but actively work towards strength, independence, confidence and hope.It’s a space where recovery is not just a medical process, but a personalised, empowering journey surrounded by support and expertise.
Need for paediatric rehab
“I especially want to highlight something that’s often overlooked: the need for paediatric rehab. When we think about children who face neurological challenges, we must remember that they are not just smaller adults. Their bodies and brains are still growing, developing and shaping their futures. Without the right support at the right time, children can lose precious opportunities to build strength, coordination, resilience and confidence.
“Paediatric rehab at Neurokinex gives these young people a fighting chance a chance to grow into their potential, to keep their bodies as strong and capable as possible and to be ready for whatever tomorrow brings. Beyond physical development, it gives them a sense of possibility. To be able to move, to engage, to participate – that matters enormously in childhood. It sets the foundation for lifelong wellbeing.
Profound effect on me
“Personally, engaging with Neurokinex has had a profound impact. When I first started training at Neurokinex Bristol it opened my eyes to a whole new way of training and thinking outside of the box to get me working all areas of my body, even where I’m paralysed. What struck me most was not just the science behind the therapy – incredible as it is – but the energy of the place. The optimism and the belief that real, meaningful progress is possible. Every session felt like stepping toward something better, not just enduring something difficult.
“What I know from my time at the Bristol site and from watching others around me is that Neurokinex doesn’t just support physical recovery: it fosters community belonging and resilience. I’ve seen people who once struggled with basic movements reclaim independence. I’ve seen families breathe easier knowing their loved ones are in expert, compassionate hands. I’ve seen laughter, encouragement, celebration all alongside the hard work of rehabilitation. That combination of expertise and humanity is rare and it’s exactly what makes Neurokinex so valuable.
Seeing potential, not limitation
“The value of this community cannot be overstated. It’s not just about the gym, the equipment, or the therapy protocols it’s about the people. The staff who see potential where others see limitation. The friends who become like family. The participants who inspire each other daily just by turning up and giving it everything they have. his community becomes a source of strength, encouragement and shared purpose. That’s something you cannot quantify, but you feel it the moment you walk through the doors.
“And let’s talk about activity-based rehab techniques because this is where Neurokinex really pushes the boundaries of what we once thought was possible. Traditional rehab often focuses on compensation and finding ways to work around loss of function. But activity-based rehab flips that script. Instead of teaching the body to do less, it encourages the body to do more. To find patterns of movement through repetition, intensity and engagement. It leverages the science of neuroplasticity – the brain’s ability to adapt and rewire – at a time when we know it matters most.
Lifechanging gains
“The results we’ve witnessed are more than incremental improvements – they are life-changing. For some, it’s walking again. For others, it’s standing tall, regaining hand function or simply being able to participate in family life in a way they couldn’t before. Every success story reminds us that recovery is not linear, but it is possible. And the impact ripples out into homes, workplaces, schools and communities. Thank you to Neurokinex for building a place where recovery continues long after the hospital doors close.
“Neurokinex doesn’t just change bodies, it changes lives and gives hope. And that’s something worth celebrating, supporting and investing in.”
