A Plymouth charity has for more than 30 years provided invaluable help and support for survivors of traumatic brain injuries.
Headway Plymouth, which is based in Devonport, was established in 1989 with the mission of people with acquired brain injury, their family, partners and carers, to help them adjust and come to terms with the changes in their lives. The charity is still the only provider of its type in Plymouth ands the surrounding area.
Acquired brain injury (ABI) refers to damage to the brain caused by a fall, blow to the head, road accident or illness such as tumours, brain haemorrhages and seizures. The results can be devastating both for the survivor and their families and carers. Lives are changed forever and more often the victim may not be the person they were before which is extremely hard for all parties to accept and deal with.
Immediately following a brain injury acute care at hospital can be excellent but following discharge it is very difficult to predict the long-term effects of the injury and there is a lack of long-term rehabilitation that is so often needed.
Those with brain injury are often unable to work, suffer social isolation, family breakdown and struggle to access statutory services. Yet with proper support and appropriate rehabilitation so much can be done to pick up the pieces and go on to live as independent a life as possible, to enjoy fulfilling and productive lives.
There is no direct link from the hospital to Headway, so it is down to social services to refer their clients or for people to find out about us and what we do themselves.
Headway Plymouth is currently working with brain injury survivors providing help and support through social and therapeutic activities at its centre in Devonport including:
- progress towards independent living
- improved functional ability through cognitive rehabilitation therapy, coping techniques and brain training exercises
- significantly improve their mental health through enhanced confidence and self esteem
- receive information and advice specific to their individual needs
- access community facilities and initiate new interests
- help people back into employment or volunteering
Headway’s work also means that families will be better able to cope with the effects on family life and living with a person with brain injury.
Sarah Conway, the new business manager at Headway Plymouth said:
“One of my objectives is to ensure that the charity is a financially viable and sustainable organisation, is fit for purpose and best positioned to meet the challenges that lie ahead. In addition, and above all, that Headway Plymouth continually delivers a service that best meets the needs of our clients.
“We are working hard to boost our income from fundraising, grants and, crucially, through building long term relationships with community and business partners and this will help us provide brain training programmes to improve cognitive skills; life skills such as literacy, numeracy, cooking and shopping; IT skills; anger management and behaviour modification as well as informal learning experiences including gardening, arts and crafts and other activities.
“To ensure we continue these activities, Headway Plymouth are working hard to promote awareness of brain injury and the support they provide for clients in Plymouth and surrounding areas.”
For more information visit www.headwayplymouth.org.uk
