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FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
FAQs
Charity & Mission
The Matt Hampson Foundation is a charity offering physical and emotional support for young people following life-changing injury in sporting activity.
Matt Hampson created the Foundation to help other young people after experiencing his own life-changing injury as a 20-year-old professional rugby player.HT
Matt’s mantra of ‘Get Busy Living’ comes from a quote in the Shawshank Redemption movie, embracing feelings of hope and living to the fullest even in adversity. The Foundation’s home is the Get Busy Living Centre near Melton Mowbray in Leicestershire.
The Foundation’s mission is to create a support network for people seriously injured through sport and for their families, encouraging its beneficiaries to help each other by sharing knowledge and experiences.
The Foundation was created in 2011.
The Get Busy Living Centre was officially opened in 2018, located near Melton Mowbray in Leicestershire in the East Midlands of England. The Foundation also has a network of regional satellite hubs to take support further.
Yes. Registered charity number 1139823.
Support & Services
The Foundation supports young people (aged 45 and under) following life-changing injury in sporting activity at any level. To find out more about how the Foundation may be able to support you, email sophie@hambo.co.uk or see the Get Support section of the website.
The Foundation offers expert physiotherapy (including functional electrical stimulation and pilates reformer), specialist personal training in adaptive gym, sports therapy, wellbeing (counselling, EMDR psychotherapy, Get Busy Living Room events for partners and parents, yoga and pilates), practical support (bowel and bladder management, InBody composition testing facilities and occupational therapy advice), peer support in a caring community of staff and other beneficiaries, experience days and social events, athlete development programme, residential stays with intensive rehab opportunities and support with return to work, education or sport. There is also an MND support programme.
If you are or another young person is affected by a serious sporting injury and would like to discuss how the Foundation might be able to support, email sophie@hambo.co.uk or see the Get Support section of the website.
If you are or someone you know is affected by a serious sporting injury and would like to discuss how the Foundation might be able to support, email sophie@hambo.co.uk or see the Get Support section of the website for more information. Each beneficiary will have a tailored journey and unique experience, from initial contact through meeting the team and to compiling a rehabilitation plan.
Each potential beneficiary is assessed on a case-by-case basis, though there are some guiding principles regarding eligibility:
Person aged 45 and under having experienced life-changing injury through competitive sport; or
Professional sportsperson who has experienced life-changing injury; or
Person 45 years or under having experienced a life-changing injury who has ambitions to access disability sport recreationally or competitively and displays a passion for fitness; or
Competitive sportsperson over 45 having experienced life-changing injury through sport.
Absolutely, the Foundation is built on supporting not only its beneficiaries but also the people closest to them. We welcome partners, parents and families to be part of the journey.
The Foundation has offered support to individuals in countries including France, Australia, South Africa and Samoa.
Programmes & Activities
The Centre hosts physiotherapy (including functional electrical stimulation and pilates reformer), specialist personal training in adaptive gym, sports therapy, wellbeing (counselling, EMDR psychotherapy, Get Busy Living Room events for partners and parents, yoga and pilates), practical support (bowel and bladder management, InBody composition testing facilities and occupational therapy advice), peer support, experience days and social events, athlete development programme, residential stays with intensive rehab opportunities and support with return to work, education or sport. The Foundation also has an MND support programme.
The Tindall Athlete Development Programme – named after Foundation patron and Rugby World Cup winner Mike Tindall – is available to selected beneficiaries who aim to compete towards the top of para sport. It offers a personalised, fully-funded strength and conditioning programme at the Get Busy Living Centre, access to training software and sports nutrition supplements plus other benefits.
Yes, we believe the mental and emotional side of rehabilitation after injury is as important as the physical. We have a wellbeing pod where beneficiaries and their loved ones can work with our counsellor to process their experiences and support their mental health during the rehabilitation journey. We also have a neuro pilates programme and an adaptive yoga teacher who works with beneficiaries to improve their flexibility, posture and balance, and experience calm and relaxation post-injury.
The Get Busy Living Centre has a unique atmosphere and specialist professionals to support those living with MND who want to continue an active lifestyle. Working with the My Name’5 Doddie Foundation, places are available by self-referral and the only criteria is that anyone seeking support must have an association with sport either competitively or in enjoying a range of recreational activity.
Yes. Our on-site lodges have two bedrooms, bathroom and kitchen/living area, and are fully adapted, comfortable and welcoming. They are perfect for newly-injured beneficiaries leaving hospital and beginning their rehabilitation journey or for others seeking a residential stay and regular sessions with our physio team, trainer or counsellor alongside social interaction with the team and other beneficiaries.
If it is not convenient to visit the Get Busy Living Centre regularly, beneficiaries may wish to use our network of hubs in other parts of the country. They all share the aim of providing a welcoming space in a supportive environment where young people can exercise together and build confidence to ‘get busy living’ after injury as part of the Foundation Family. Current hubs are in the North-East, South-East and South-West, each running weekly small-group training sessions, and there are plans to develop this network further.
The Foundation organises numerous experience days and social events for beneficiaries and their families. There is also a programme of events to raise funds and awareness including Annual Rugby Dinner, Summer Ball, Get Busy Living Awards, Golf Days and more.
Supporters & Ways to Help
There are numerous ways to offer financial support including donation or membership of the Get Busy Living Club. See the Support Us section of the website for more information.
The Foundation’s support is directly funded by the generosity of its supporters. There are many ways to help fundraising, from donation and Get Busy Living Club membership to sponsoring or organising events or personal challenges. See the Support Us section of the website for more information. And thank you!
Payroll Giving allows supporters to make a regular tax-free donation from gross salary so you can give more at no extra cost to yourself. These donations are deducted from pre-tax salary and we receive your donation plus some money that you otherwise would have paid in tax. For example, if you are a 20% taxpayer and set up a monthly Payroll Giving donation of £10 to the Foundation, your take-home or net salary will drop by only £8. For more information see the Payroll Giving page on the website.
Yes. Legacy gifts make a huge difference to the Foundation and can help us to inspire and support many more people to rebuild their lives after serious injury. See the Support Us section of the website for more details.
You can support a Foundation fundraiser by buying tickets for an event they have organised, by sponsoring their fundraising activity or by making a donation in person or online via JustGiving or other platforms. And don’t forget to add Gift Aid where available.
People & Stories
Who is Matt Hampson and what happened to him?
Matt Hampson was 20 years old and beginning a career in professional rugby when he experienced life-changing injury during training with the England Under-21 team in 2005. Paralysed from the neck down and breathing via a ventilator, he spent a year-and-a-half in hospital but, rather than lament what he had lost, he instead focused on what he could still do and to ‘get busy living’. He created the Foundation to help other young people after life-changing injury and was awarded an OBE in 2021 in recognition of his achievements. He continues to drive the Foundation’s mission.
The Foundation team is led by Matt Hampson, CEO Tommy Cawston and chairman of trustees Adam Walker. Mike Tindall is patron.
There is a selection of Beneficiary Stories on the website and regular updates on the Foundation’s social media channels which illustrate how they ‘get busy living’ after injury.
To contact the Foundation, email sophie@hambo.co.uk
“We had an amazing time with The Matt Hampson Foundation team – the use of experiential learning and Lumina Spark has made a profound impact of how I see myself and others. Being at The Get Busy Living Centre has been a truly inspirational setting to spend some valuable time together as a team.”