Headway Essex News Spring 2019
INSIDE AN ARABIAN NIGHT TO REMEMBER
PARENTING WITH A BRAIN INJURY
RECENT DONATIONS & FUNDRAISING
Read more inside about the brilliant
We catch up with Claire Withnall who
We are very grateful to everyone who
night which raised over £20,000 for
shares her experience of parenting
fundraises and donates to Headway
Headway Essex.
with a brain injury.
Essex. Read more inside about the recent donations.
In this issue
Contents Spring 2019 issue.
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Fundraising news
Find out the latest from the fundraising team and the events which our brilliant supporters of Headway Essex have held this year so far,
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Other service news
Read about our exciting new service in Benfleet and meet our new members of staff.
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New service in South Essex
Keep up to date with our services including the Headway Centres new address and our town office move.
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Save the date
The Essex Classic Vehicle Show is back! Be sure to put the 15th September in your diary. Further information on the event inside.
Colour5K launch
We’re counting down to this exciting event with our sponsor Attwells Solicitors. View our colourful launch inside this issue.
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A night to remember
Our Arabian Nights Ball which raised over £20,000 for Headway Essex. Read more about the night of opulence and wonderment inside.
Parenting with a brain injury
We catch up with Claire Withnall who shares her experience of parenting with a brain injury.
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Thank you
Read about all of our generous donors and supporters without whom we couldn’t help those living with aquired brain injury.
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About Headway Essex
eadway Essex cares for people who have acquired a brain injury and this may be through sporting or work accidents, road traffic collisions, stroke, assault, illness or disease. Support is given in two ways. Through the Headway Centre, which is a day centre in Colchester where rehabilitation activities take place. These activities are designed to help people to rebuild their lives after brain injury. The centre has 82 places available each week. Headway Essex also has a Community
Support Service. The Community Support Team provides telephone support, information on the different aspects of brain injury, support groups, training for carers, specialist literature on brain injury, home and hospital visits and educational talks. Currently over 500 individuals are supported across Essex. Registered Charity Number: 1008807 Patron: David Tennant Company Limited by Guarantee Registered in England and Wales No. 2674755
Headway Essex News ~ 02
Headway Essex News
W
elcome to the Spring Edition of our Newsletter. Spring has certainly ushered in new changes for Headway Essex and all for the better. We have a new address for our Headway Centre, which now sits neatly nestled in the newly built homes on the old Severall’s hospital site, putting us right in the heart of the new community. We are still in the same building, but due to the new road infrastructure we have been given the lovely new address of Woodland Walk. Following the theme of change, due to redevelopment, we have moved out of the Headway Town Office. After 20 years at 58b Head Street, we have relocated to Wellington House in Butt Road, Colchester. It has been my home and the home of the Finance, Fundraising and Community Support Teams for all that time. The last two weeks have brought back many happy memories for me whilst packing, ready for the move. From Roman Romps and 1940s Dances
to Atlas Mountain Treks, Pamper Evenings and Fashion Shows, it has been a fantastic trip down memory lane and nostalgic too remembering some of the wonderful people I have met and worked with along the way. Looking forward to the future, I am very excited to announce that we have recruited a Service Manager and Activities Assistant for our new South Essex Service, which means very soon we can offer people in South Essex community rehabilitation activities in their local area. You can read more about the new service on page 5 of this Newsletter. We continue to strive to provide the very best support to our service users and their families meeting the demand across Essex. We do this with the passion and drive to deliver the best quality support with our service users at the heart of everything that we do. I hope you enjoy the Spring Edition of the Newsletter and look forward to sharing my news with you in the Summer Edition. - Joanna Wright, Cheif Executive
Visit us headwayessex.org.uk Follow us twitter.com/headwayessex Like us facebook.com/headway.essex See us instagram.com/headwayessex
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Become a Member
his addition of the Newsletter includes a Headway Essex Membership Application Form. We would like to encourage everyone who is interested in supporting and furthering the work of Headway Essex to become subscription members. The cost of an Annual subscription remains at £5 for an individual or family membership and £10 for a professional membership. There is also the option of an annual lifetime membership of £100. We can also claim gift aid where appropriate on individual memberships (including lifetime membership) if you tick the gift aid authorisation and sign the enclosed form. As a subscription member, we will continue to keep you up to date with news on Headway through the regular newsletters. You will also receive a copy of the Annual Report and Accounts and you are eligible to vote at the Annual General Meeting.
Headway Essex News ~ 03
JOIN U
S
Please fi nd a form enclose if you arr d e intere sted in becomin g a mem ber.
Our news
Fundraising News on recent donations and fundraising
RAINHAM LODGE DONATION
Quiz Night Donation Thank you to Jill Roberts & Nick Lang who organised a quiz night at the WI Hall, Billericay to raise money for Headway Essex. It was lovely to have Jill and Angela (pictured below left) come to the Headway Centre and meet some of our clients whilst presenting us with the generous £500 donation.
We were extremely fortunate to receive a £500 donation this March on behalf of Rainham Lodge. Our special thanks go to Grayham Curtis and Sandra Stamp for visiting us at the Headway Centre to hand over the cheque. During their visit they met some of our staff and clients and saw first hand the invaluable service we provide. The extremely kind donation will go directly to helping those with aquired brain injury, their carers and families. Thank you.
JAGUAR ENTHUSIASTS CLUB DONATE £520
A massive thank you to the Jaguar Enthusiasts Club who kindly donated £520 through various fundraising activities. The club who always support our classic vehicle show, chose us as their charity of the year in 2018.
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From the frontline
New service in
South Essex Our new service in South Essex, Benfleet Funded by the National Lottery Community Fund
It’s on its way... We are delighted to announce that Gemma Baines and Jane Watkins have joined our South Essex team based in Benfleet. Exciting times are ahead for our new community rehabilitation day service, funded by the National Lottery Community Fund. Gemma is joining us as Service Manager and Jane as Day Service Assistant. Their combined background in health & social care and speech and language therapy will be valuable in spearheading our new service. We will be offering sessions to individuals affected by brain injury, helping to support their recovery enabling them to live a fulfilled life and reach their full potential.
Gemma & Jane at the Benfleet Office
Our aim is for the service to go ‘live’ this summer offering a varied range of sessions, including health and fitness, wellbeing, education & social groups. We welcome all adults with acquired brain injury to access our service and invite you to contact our Community Support Service on 01206 768797 to gain further information on what we have to offer. We will of course update our website in due course, with session details, dates and times, so please keep an eye out for more information. From all at Headway Essex, we welcome Gemma and Jane to the Headway family and wish them future success with our new venture.
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Other service news We Have Moved Headway Essex Town Office WOULD YOU LIKE TO TELL YOUR STORY? At Headway Essex we believe that everyones story is unique. If you would like to share yours with us please do not hesitate to contact our fundraising team either by email: fundraising@headwayessex.org.uk or by phone 01206 547616.
The Headway Essex Town Office is relocating from its premises at 58b Head Street. With effect from Tuesday 7th May, the Community Support, Finance and Fundraising Teams along with the Chief Executive, will be resident at the new Town Office address: 6th Floor Annex, Wellington House 90-92 Butt Road, Colchester, Essex, CO3 3DA. All visitors will need to sign-in at the main reception on the ground floor. There is no change to the telephone numbers. They will remain as: Community Support – 01206 768797 Finance, Fundraising & Chief Executive – 01206 547616 As with current procedure, all visitors for Community Support should ring first for an appointment.
HEADWAY CENTRE COLCHESTER NEW ADDRESS As many of you will know, there has been a great deal of construction work in the area surrounding the Headway Centre. We are pleased to say that the majority of the building work has finished and now the Headway Centre has a new address, in the heart of the new community. We are still in the same building, but due to the new road infrastructure, our address has changed to: The Headway Centre, Woodland Walk, Colchester, Essex CO4 6DH Please note this is a new postcode and may not appear on Google Maps or Sat Navs yet. If you are planning to drive to the centre for the first time, please contact the centre on 01206 845945 for directions. Headway Essex News ~ 06
Save the date
S u n d ay 15th S e p te m be 2019 r
The Essex Classic Vehicle Show The only event of its type to be gracing Colchester this year.
For the fourth year Headway Essex are teaming up with the Charity Classic Vehicle Club to organise the Essex Classic Vehicle Show. This years event will be held on Sunday 15th September 2019. Whether you’re a classic car enthusiast or a vintage motorbike fanatic the Essex Classic Vehicle Show is the perfect event for any petrol heads and is the only event of its type to be gracing Castle Park this summer.
Book your tickets! If you would like to attend this event with your classic vehicle please go to www.headwayessex.org.uk for a booking form. Alternatively you can contact our fundraising team on 01206 547616 or email fundraising@ headwayessex.org.uk for more information. Please note that bookings are restricted to 240 vehicles, so don’t delay!
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Colour 5K launch
Colour5k launch Attwells Solicitors celebrate being Colour5K sponsors.
We’re over the moon to announce that Attwells Solicitors will be sponsoring this year’s Colour5K event which will be held once again at Essex Showground on Saturday 29 June 2019. We were fortunate enough to visit their new office in Colchester last month to meet some of the team who helped launch this year’s event. Managing Partner, Nick Attwell said, “We are thrilled to be part of the Celebration of Colour with Headway Essex, being an integral part of the community is at the heart of the Attwells’ ethos and by working closely with charities, such as Headway Essex, we are able to support local people.”
Whether you’re a casual walker or regular runner, want some fun or just want to raise money for charity, you will love this event. Runners come from all different backgrounds and have one thing in common; they love fun! Money raised from the event will go towards providing rehabilitation and support for brain injury survivors and their families and carers in Essex.
Sponsored by
Venue provided by
The event is also supported by The Boot Group who each year donate the use of their field, the Ardleigh Showground.
Sign up today! For more information and to book a place, visit the Headway Essex website www.headwayessex.org.uk or email fundraising@headwayessex.org.uk
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An Arabian Night to remember £20k ra i s e d
Visit ou r websit e and event p age on F aceboo k for more pictures
Headway Essex Arabian Nights Ball raises over £20,000
We are still reeling from the success of our Arabian Nights Ball, inspired by Scheherazade’s 1001 Tales. The event which was held on Friday 29th March at the beautiful Stoke by Nayland Hotel raised over £20,000. Our guests were treated to a fun packed evening of entertainment and dancing. Cllr Robert Needham was kindly our MC for the evening.
luxury Vale Hotel and much, much more! It was so lovely to see everyone having such a wonderful time and being so generous. We are so grateful to our sponsors BTMK Injury Solicitors, 42 Bedford Row, Investec Wealth & Investment UK and The Cotswold Group, our volunteers and guests for making this event such a success.
In line with the theme, there were some surprises in store. Dean Allen Jones provided the magic on the night and Soluna Dance kept the Arabian night’s theme alive with their performance. Also, there was live music from the impressive band Frisco Monk who kept everyone dancing all night long. The event included a raffle and auction kindly conducted by Richard Kemsley. Our guests enjoyed a little friendly competition for our spectacular array of prizes including a weekend for 6 people in a cosy coastguard’s cottage, a flight experience, a golfing break in the Headway Essex News ~ 09
Client interview
“Sometime courage doesn’t roar. It’s the little voice at the end of the day saying I’ll try again tomorrow” We catch up with Claire Withnall who shares her experience of parenting with a brain injury. Since her brain haemorrhage in August 2013, Claire Withnall has been striving for a ‘semblance of normality’, which just so happens to be the name of her Facebook blog. Here, we catch up with Claire. Semblance of normality Claire Withnall
Five and a half years ago busy mum, Claire, had a stroke at the age of 29. It was the result of a large brain haemorrhage caused by an Arteriovenous Malformation; a condition she was unknowingly born with. It has been a long and difficult journey for Claire and her young family, but she is determined not to let her illness define her. “I am now happily unemployable. I liked being at home anyway. It’s just the boredom I find really difficult. I walk with a walker and I have really bad double vision. This is made a lot better by a coloured contact lens, but that means I can only see out of my left eye. I also really struggle with verbal communication. I can say what I think, but I can’t think or speak as quickly as I used to, and I sound really different. Also, my memory isn’t the same; where as it used to be very good, I now forget things.” Claire explains. “Going back to how things were before, is important. For me, normality is being a mum and wife” says Claire, who has a busy life looking after her two children
“I could write a book about how to have and use a smart home properly.”
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Client interview
aged 7 and 9. “Of course, things can’t quite be the same; that’s why it’s a semblance. My life is similar to what it was before, but not exactly as it was.” adds Claire. But the analogy of ‘putting one foot in front of the other’ has stayed with Claire from when she was in the hospital to now. Having previously enjoyed a career as a real estate solicitor for a top City law-firm before deciding to leave law behind to focus on being a mum, Claire puts a lot of her determination down to the lifechoices she made before her injury. Introducing smart technology Visiting Claire, it’s clear to see that she’s made good use of technology. As we were speaking, Alexa promptly announced it was time for her to do her 2,000 treadmill steps for the day! “I could write a book about how to have and use a smart home properly” recalls Claire. Crucially, it has helped give her back her independence and greatly assists her in her role as mum. In the morning, Alexa prompts Claire’s children four times to start getting ready. It even mimics Claire’s brilliant sense of humour. “It’s a very efficient routine and at 8.33am on the dot, the children are ready to leave for school” adds Claire. Claire has always been great at planning activities for her children. But she recalls preparing materials for activities such as her writing routine charts whilst she visited the Headway Centre once a week for a break “It’s really important. It makes life easier and the children know what is expected of them. Now, I use Alexa to make sure we’re all on task.” Before introducing smart technology into their lives, Claire relied on her husband to get dinner. Now, she dictates what she wants to buy to a virtual shopping list that is linked to his mobile phone. She’s first to admit that it’s not without its flaws though! “My husband once got confused asking why, when we don’t own a dog, is
dog food on the list? Alexa had confused jam with champ!” she laughs. Alexa has other benefits too. As Claire walks in her front door she can ask Alexa to put on the lights, lamp and TV. “I don’t have to get out of bed to turn the hall lights on or off, which is amazing. And if the children are watching the TV and not responding to me, I can simply instruct Alexa to turn it off!” It also works as an intercom. “I hate starting my day raising my voice and so having two-way intercom is absolutely necessary. Before this, I used walkie talkies because I do not have a very loud voice and I need the children to hear me when they are upstairs.” Claire also makes good use of the dictation skills she used as a solicitor. She uses voice notes on WhatsApp and the audio facility on messenger because it’s so much quicker. “I used to hate how I sounded so wouldn’t have done this. I wouldn’t have even made basic phone calls in case I wasn’t coherent to the other person. But now it doesn’t bother me.” Non-tech parenting tools It’s not all about technology though. Claire is a very creative and having been ill has not stopped her from being inventive. It’s quite the opposite. “Since my brain haemorrhage, I haven’t been able to return to work, but I have always seen the time at home with my children as a gift; even more so since I became ill. I hate being bored and so I spend a lot of time coming up with educational activities for my children. Many of these activities are not just useful for disabled parents, but anyone who cares for children.” Claire talks about using clipboards, as an example. She uses them to keep her children engaged with their environment. When they go for a walk, the children will often have their clipboards with them.
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Client interview
“I provide different activity sheets for them to complete. They tick-off things they have seen or now that they are older, I include questions, or I ask them to write-down facts. Giving them added responsibility also helps their behaviour; it keeps them focused and engaged. For any parent, it’s a huge help.” Claire also makes full use of ‘busy bags’; clear zipped coloured pouches where her children can bring a couple of activities with them on a trip out. “There is a different activity in every pencil case so there is still an element of choice. What I like is you can change the activities as your children grow”, says Claire. Making the family house a home
I don’t let what happened to me define everything (any more than it has too). I am still me and I know I can still be stubborn. It’s what made me become a lawyer and a good mummy. At the end of the day I want to do, and more importantly feel like I can do, all the things other people can and not be prevented by the logistics.”
“The whole not looking clincial thing is very important to me. So, with a lot of research, my husband and I came up with solutions”
“The whole not-looking clinical thing is very important to me. So, with a lot of research, my husband and I came up with solutions to make the house practical but not like a hospital. We wanted it to feel like our family-home.” The kitchen has been carefully adapted to make it easier for Claire to access cooking items and she wouldn’t be without her coffee machine. Whilst some of the changes were practical, others have been heart-felt. “We even added the house number of our old address to our children’s summer house; a nod to our previous home!” she says. Claire also has her own space; her therapy room; her sanctuary and home to her treadmill where she completes her daily steps, whilst watching TV. Personal goals Talking about physiotherapy, Claire adds “My stubborn streak has been very useful. Without it, having to re-learn to walk using a frame wouldn’t have happened because it has taken constant persistence (I am not there yet!) and endless patience.
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Thank You
Thank you to everyone who raises vital funds for Headway Essex, whether by having a collection tin, organising an event, taking part in a sponsored event, making a personal donation or making a donation in memory of a loved one. Your support makes a huge difference to the lives of those living with the effects of an acquired brain injury. A huge thank you to Big Yellow Storage Space for donating valuable storage space to Headway Essex. Thank you to the Essex Masons Charitable Trust who generously donated £1,000. Colchester Rugby Club Thank you for the generous donation of £2,200 from the charity collection by Colchester RFC. Thank you to Dehlia McNair who held a dress down day and raised £72 for Headway Essex. Thank you to Mark Passmore who donated a generous £750.
Donations in memory We thank the family and friends of: Mrs Gwen Smith and Mr David Gilbert for the kind donations made in their memory. Our thoughts are with you at this difficult time.
Thank you to the local Essex businesses who have supported us recently with generous donations. - Attwells Solicitors who donated £3,843. - BTMK Solicitors who donated £701. - Boydens Estate Agents who donated £500. We would like to say a special thank you to: - Mrs C Smith who kindly donated £100. - Witham United Reform Church who donated £215 from their quiz night. - Everyone who donated through Paypal Giving Fund. - Anne Brambleby who donated £50 with her membership renewal. - Marks Tey Folk Dance Club who donated £230 in respect funds from the dancers. - Mr C Hull and Mr J Pavey for donating £174
Headway Essex HIVE We would like to thank all of our Hive members. Whether you have been a member for a while or you have recently joined us, your support is greatly appreciated by all of us here at Headway Essex. We promise every penny you give will go to continuing our work in supporting people living with acquired brain injury. If you would like more information about the Headway Essex Hive or would like to become a member, please visit our website www.headwayessex.org.uk.
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Community Support Groups Support Group Meetings
Carers Support Group Meetings
North East Essex From 7pm to 9pm Tuesday 7 May Tuesday 4 June Tuesday 2 July (10.30am to 12.30pm) No meeting in August
North East Essex From 10.30am to 12.30pm Friday 24 May Friday 28 June Friday 26 July No meeting in August
South Essex From 7.00pm to 9.00pm Tuesday 14 May Tuesday 11 June Tuesday 9 July No meeting in August
South Essex From 7.00pm to 9.00pm Thursday 23 May Thursday 27 June Thursday 25 July No meeting in August
Mid Essex From 10.00am to 12.00pm Tuesday 21 May Tuesday 18 June Tuesday 16 July No meeting in August
West Essex From 12.30pm to 2pm Tuesday 28 May Tuesday 25 June Tuesday 23 July No meeting in August
West Essex From 10.00am - 12.00pm Tuesday 28 May Tuesday 25 June Tuesday 23 July No meeting in August
There is a charge of £2.50 per person or £5 per family for all of our Support Group meetings. If you would like further information on any of the groups and their locations, please contact: Community Support Team 01206 768797 communitysupport@headwayessex.org.uk
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Colchester Half Marathon 2019
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eadway Essex have been involved with the Colchester Half Marathon for a number of years however this year we were chosen as one of the benefitting charities and will receive a share of the income raised this year and in 2020. We had a fantastic time at the event which took place on Sunday 24th March 2019. Well done to everyone who took part, especially those who laced up their trainers and ran for Headway Essex. For more pictures and information visit our blog www.headwayessex.org.uk.
Beecome a Hive Member In Essex, every 58 minutes, someone is admitted to hospital with a brain injury. Quite often, their life and the lives of their family members will forever be affected. Whatever your regular gift, it will help ensure we can be there for many years to come; taking clients and their families from a place of surviving to thriving. By joining the Headway Essex Hive, your commitment will bring you closer to our work through updates on the impact your gift is making. We promise every penny you give will go to continuing our work in supporting people living with acquired brain injury. For further information about becoming a Headway Essex Hive member, please contact our fundraising team fundraising@headwayessex.org.uk or visit our website www.headwayessex.org.uk.
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Fo r m o re a n d i n f p i c t u re s orm v i s i t o u at i o n r blog
Thank you
to all our supporters, partners, commissioners, trustees, volunteers and funders. There are so many ways you get involved! To find out how you can help raise funds, visit www.headwayessex.org.uk/i-want-to-help
Contact us FUNDRAISING: fundraising@headwayessex.org.uk 01206 547616 6th Floor Annex, Wellington House 90-92 Butt Road, Colchester, Essex, CO3 3DA
COMMUNITY SUPPORT: communitysupport@headwayessex.org.uk 01206 768797 6th Floor Annex, Wellington House 90-92 Butt Road, Colchester, Essex, CO3 3DA
THE HEADWAY CENTRE: dayservice@headwayessex.org.uk 01206 845945 The Headway Centre, Woodland Walk, Colchester, CO4 6DH
FACEBOOK: @headway.essex TWITTER: @headwayessex INSTAGRAM: @headwayessex
www.headwayessex.org.uk
Registered Charity Number 1008807