Making headway in brain injury recovery
26th July 2023
- Every 58 minutes, someone in Essex is admitted to hospital with an acquired brain injury
- Every 2.5 hours, someone in Essex is admitted to hospital with a stroke
People living in South Essex with an acquired brain injury now have access to personalised support to help them reach their potential and improve independence, thanks to a new centre opened by local charity, Headway Essex.
This has been made possible thanks to a donation of £19,231 from the Provide Foundation, set up by the Essex-based social enterprise Provide Community in partnership with Essex Community Foundation (ECF).
Jo Wright, CEO of Headway Essex, said, “The nature of our work means that we consider each person’s future aspirations on an individual basis. We needed a safe and supported environment that allows each person a place to socialise and receive support, which is why this funding is vital for us to be able to continue and expand our work.”
The new day centre, based at the Methodist Church in Benfleet, offers a wide range of services, activities and support to the service user, carers, and family members.
The activities help improve communication, cognitive processing and memory. They also include food preparation using adapted tools and physical therapy to improve balance, core strength and fitness.
Jo added, “You never know when an injury or health issue could impact either you or someone you love. For people living acquiring a brain injury, lives are changed in an instant, both for the individual and their families.
“We help them to adjust and learn coping skills to improve their daily lives. We also offer opportunities to socialise and receive peer support if they are struggling to cope.”
One of the people to benefit from Headway’s support over the past seven years is 33-year-old, Henry Mitchell, who now fundraises for the charity. He recently walked the Colchester half marathon and has plans to walk the Sahara Desert in November.
He said “I couldn’t walk for many weeks after my traumatic brain injury.I have since gained back control over my body and now value the abilityto walk. I’m dedicated to fundraising, and I do this for all the people at Headway who are not as able as me.”
Find out more and support him: www.justgiving.com/fundraising/henry-mitchell2023
Headway Essex promotes awareness of brain injury by offering training, acting as an educational resource for universities and running awareness events at schools and colleges. In addition, they recently received funding for a carers’ well-being workshop which will start in October.
Find out more at www.headwayessex.org.uk.
If you are a local charity in need of funding to support your work, contact ECF on 01245 355947 or apply here.