Headway Essex News Summer 2019
ESSEX CLASSIC VEHICLE SHOW
INSIDE COLOUR5K EVENT A SUCCESS
BEN WILSON TELLS US HIS STORY
RECENT DONATIONS & FUNDRAISING
Read more inside about the brilliant
Read all about Ben, his brain injury and
We are very grateful to everyone who
colour extravaganza which raised
how his life has changed following the
fundraises and donates to Headway
over £9,000 for Headway Essex.
accident.
Essex. Read more inside about the recent donations.
Contents Summer 2019 issue
03
Service news
Find out the latest news from Headway Essex servies, clients, staff, volunteers and more.
06
Here to make sure you do not have to face living with an times of our community support groups
Fundraising news
which our brilliant supporters of Headway Essex have held
07
Thank you
To everyone who raises vital funds for Headway Essex. Your support makes a huge difference to the lives of those living with the effects of an aquired brain injury
Colour5K event a Success
For the seventh year we held our Colour5K at Ardleigh Showground. Read more about the success of the event along with some photos from the day
10
Community Support Groups
acquired brain injury alone, find out the latest dates and
Find out the latest from the fundraising team and the events
08
05
Ben Wilson tells us his story
We talk to Ben about his accident and how his life has changed following his acquired brain injury.
09
Save the date
The Essex Classic Vehicle Show is back and will be gracing castle park for the fourth year on Sunday 15th September
12
Get involved
Find out more about how you can get involved and help raise vital funds for Headway Essex
About Headway Essex
H
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 or illness. 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
News from
Our services News about Headway Essex services
THE NEW HEADWAY ESSEX YOUNG ABI GROUP Last year we received funding from the North East
Essex improved Better Care Fund (iBCF), to pilot a new group aimed at supporting young adults. Its aim was to help them to gain insight into their brain injury, encourage good health, wellbeing and independence through the activities, and peer support. The 12-week pilot programme was launched on 12th January 2019 with an informal getting to know you session.
At the end of the course, all attendees agreed: • • • • •
This was the first time Headway Essex has done something specifically aimed at young adults and it was important that they were involved in designing the programme.
They had a better understanding of ABI Their insight of how BI has affected them had increased They can now make good use of memory aids (e.g. diary, mobile, post-it notes etc.) They now feel motivated to achieve their goals They feel motivated to take up purposeful activities (e.g. hobbies, exercise, work, volunteering)
What has been even more encouraging is to see that the group continued to meet socially after the programme finished. We are hoping to be able to run another programme later this year, if we are able to secure more funding.
In Memory of Andy Plowright On 17th June , it was with heavy hearts that we paid our respects and said goodbye to our long-time co-worker and friend, Andy Plowright who died unexpectedly on 26th May. As you may know Andy was our Service Manager at the Headway Centre in Colchester, a role he was so passionate about, for over 15 years. Andy’s dedication and enthusiasm to improving the lives of adults living with acquired brain injury, was an inspiration to all who met him and we will miss him more than words can express. All messages of support and our sincere sympathy and condolences are with Andy’s family at this difficult time. Andy’s family requested that donations in his memory should go to Headway Essex and on their behalf we thank everyone who has donated so far. If you wish to make a donation an ‘In Memory Donations Page’ has been set up at https://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/SomeoneSpecial/AndyPlowright Headway Essex News ~ 03
News from
South Essex It’s an exciting time for Headway South Essex. Over the last few months we have worked hard setting up our new South Essex Brain Injury Hub in Benfleet. We launched our first taster session at the end of June, with some really positive feedback. This July we are launching Brain injury and me, these session will give individuals an insight into their injury, help them gain some valuable coping skills and adjust to life after suffering a brain injury. We are also launching Fitness for all the end of July, this involves gentle exercise which can be done seated or standing to suit all abilities. In August we will be launching communicating with confidence and hopefully fatigue mangement, along with a brain injury weekly social club. Gaining client feedback has been essential when developing our sessions, everything we do revolves around being client led. From feedback received at our taster sessions, we are also looking to offer anxiety, anger management, wellness and mindfullness sessions. We promise to keep our website up to date with future developments, but in the meantime if you are interested in attending or you know someone who would benefit from attending our sessions, please contact Gemma on Gemma.baines@headwayessex.org. uk or call 01206845945.
Sesions we include... will offer include... Sessions we offer Brain injury and me
These sessions will give you a better insight into your injury, its effects, and impact on you and your family members. As a result you will learn valuable coping and adjustment skills, enabling you to set realistic goals and gain support and friendship from the group.
Communicating with confidence
These sessions will help you improve your social skills and communicate more effectively with friends and family.
Fitness for all
Our fitness sessions are for all abilities and can be done seated or standing. The class is led by a trained professional teaching gentle exercise, helping with balance, posture, coordination and muscle strength. Our aim is to help reduce fatigue, aid concentration and improve health and wellbeing.
Cooking for the brain
Our goal is to help you gain some independence in the kitchen, preparing simple basic meals, for you, family or friends, using healthy ingredients that are beneficial to the brain. These sessions will help you to improve your organisation, concentration and multi-tasking abilities.
We also hold monthly support groups where both you and family members have the chance to meet others with a brain injury, share information and hear from experts in brain injury care and rehabilitation. It could be that you are unsure of what type of support you need and what is available to you. Or you may just want to talk to a member of our support team who understand brain injury and the issues you are facing. Headway Essex is here to help you and you can call our helpline (Mon-Fri) on 01206 845945 where a member of our support team will assist you.
Headway Essex News ~ 04
Community Support Fo r m o i n fo r m r e at call 012 ion 06 845945
We’re here to make sure you do not have to face living with an acquired brain injury alone. Community Support Groups
Other Support
Many people who have a brain injury find our support group meetings very beneficial. The groups provide you with an opportunity to meet others who have a brain injury, to share information and to hear from experts in brain injury care and rehabilitation.
It could be that you are unsure of what type of support you need and what is available to you. Or perhaps you would just like to talk to someone who has an understanding of brain injury. Either way, we’re here to help.
Currently, we have four adult only support groups across Essex that meet each month in easily accessible and relaxed community settings. We try our best to make sure we keep the costs to a minimum. There is a charge of £2.50 per person or £5 per family for each of our support group meetings. If you have not attended one of our groups before, you will need to contact the community support team to pre-register your place. For a list of upcoming meeting dates in your area, please see page 13 of the newsletter.
The team’s understanding of acquired brain injury and their knowledge of other services and organisations, means they can help you access the other support you need. Our community support team can provide you with direct, emotional and practical support and advice to help you cope and manage the changes in your life following your brain injury. The Headway Essex Help Line (01206 845945 - option 1) is available for you to call 8.30am to 4.30pm Monday to Friday (except on public holidays) and there is no fee for this support. Messages can be left out of hours and will be responded to.
Headway Essex News ~ 05
Fundraising News on recent donations and fundraising
COLCHESTER HALF MARATHON
S e c u re yo u r place in the 202 0 Colche ste r H a lf M a ra t h on!
Hats4Headway 2019
We are extremely grateful to have been chosen as a partner charity of the Griffin Chapman Colchester Half Marathon. The 2019 event was a great success and a fantastic day overall raising ÂŁ65,000. We are already looking forward to the 2020 Colchester Half Marathon which is also the 10th anniversary of the event! If you would like to take part in 2020, contact our fundraising team on 01206845945 or email fundraising@headwayessex. org.uk to secure your place!
Colchester Ladies Circle Cheque Presentation
Hats4Headway 2019 was held on Friday 24th May. This year was a great success with lots of Headway Essex supporters getting involved including the Rotary Club of Colchester (pictured below) the Rotary Club of Harwich and Dovercourt as well as our wonderful clients, carers, volunteers and staff.
The Colchester Ladies Circle kindly selected Headway Essex to be one of the charities they support with their fundraising efforts. We are extremley grateful to have recently been presented with a cheque of ÂŁ485 (pictured) to help those living with aquired brain injury.
Headway Essex News ~ 06
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.
The sky’s the limit!
Donations in Memory We thank the family and friends of: Andy Plowright & Albert Jiggins for the kind donations made in their memory. Our thoughts are with you at this sad time. Thank you to Essex Legal Services for their generous donation of £450. Thank you to The Big Yellow Self Storage Company who kindly donate valuable storage space to Headway Essex. Thank you to Mike Rohan who completed the Bluebell walk and raised £65 for Headway Essex.
One of our regular fundraisers, Gerry Hills has taken an extra leap in his fundraising efforts this month by completing a sky dive to raise over £1,100 for Headway Essex. Gerry told us ‘since my brain injury in 2017 Headway Essex has really supported me, I now really enjoy fundraising for them to help them continue to help others the way they helped me’. Gerry has also persuaded the congregation at his church to get involved, the Witham United Reformed Church has been helping Gerry this year with other events such as a quiz night which raised over £310 and a forecourt sale at the church raising £290. We would like to thank Gerry and the Witham United Reformed Church once again for all of their fundraising efforts and continued support for Headway Essex. Without supporters like Gerry we wouldn’t be able to run our services.
Headway Essex Hive Members
Thank you to everyone who donated through the PayPal Giving Fund.
We would like to take a moment to thank all of our Hive members.
A big thank you to Michael Gates for raising over £2,500 from his charity golf day at Frinton Golf Club.
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.
Headway Essex News ~ 07
Colour5k event a success Colour5K paints a pretty picture for Headway Essex
T
he air was full or rainbow colours at The Boot Group’s Ardleigh Showground on Saturday 29th June. It was a sweltering day for the seventh annual Headway Essex Colour5K, which has so far raised over £9,000 which is expected to increase once all the final sponsorship money has been collected. Around 400 participants, from ardent runners to families and friends got into the spirit of the event, passing through five colour zones at the end of each 1km lap, where ‘colour bandits’ dowsed them from head-to-toe in powdered paint. Volunteers were on hand with water to keep everyone hydrated in the heat and all runners were rewarded with a colourful medal at the end of the race. Within the total number of runners were 30 team entries, including a team of employees from the main event sponsor, Attwell Solicitors, who have recently opened an office in Colchester. Nick Attwell, Founder said: “Attwells Solicitors a
new local Essex Firm are so proud to have sponsored this event. Headway are a charity that provides all-encompassing support for those with brain injuries and at Attwells we are pleased to be able to help raise awareness of their great work.” Tracy Wellsted, Fundraising Manager, said of the event: “A good time was had by all and it was inspiring to see so many families, friends and co-workers having such an amazing time together. We cannot thank everyone enough for their support. We’re over the moon with the money raised which will go directly towards providing rehabilitation and support for brain injury survivors and their families and carers across Essex. “Headway Essex would like to thank Boot Group for once again donating Ardleigh Showground for the event as well as Attwell Solicitors and all of the volunteers who helped on the day and everyone who took part in the event.” Visit our Facebook page @headway. essex to see all of the photos.
Headway Essex News ~ 08
Save the date Essex Classic Vehicle Show
S u n d ay 15th S e p te m b 2019 er
For the fourth year Headway Essex is 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 you and is the only event of its type to be gracing Colchester Castle Park this summer.
Book your space! 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!
Headway Essex News ~ 09
Client interview
“You would never think about taking your laptop about without putting it in a case. Why would you not do the same for your own brain – the most precious computer you will ever own and for which there are no spare parts?” - Dr Andy Eynon
This is a quote that Ben Wilson, one of our clients at Headway Essex, feels very strongly about following his accident. Here, he tells us his story and how it has affected his life. My name is Ben and I am 23 years old. I was just 20 years old when I had an accident that changed my life forever.
The Accident Ben Wilson
On the morning of the 22nd August 2017, I was driving to Stansted airport to meet some friends to go on a free running holiday (which was one of my many hobbies at the time). I was driving too fast and at 5:12am my car hit a tree and I was found 52 minutes later by a passer-by named Dave Baker. I’ve met him since and he is a great guy. I was away from home for 144 days in total during my recovery. At first I was taken to Broomfield hospital, from there I was transferred to Addenbrookes where I stayed for 60 days. Finally I spent 12 weeks at Fen House (a neuro-rehabilitation centre) before heading home.
My Physical Injuries The consultants told me I’d never walk or talk again. My crash caused me to break 2 parts of my skull and shatter my left eye socket which has given me double vision when I look right and down. It gets very frustrating however it’s slowly getting better. I also broke
“The consultants told me I’d never walk or talk again.”
Headway Essex News ~ 10
Client interview
my lower spine in 3 places (L2, L3 and L5), I broke my right leg and I broke my right arm which they didn’t find out until 6 weeks later as the full body scan missed it due to the larger bone covering the broken smaller bone underneath.
The Hidden Injuries Hidden injuries remain long after the physical wounds heal. Due to stopping so fast I got a Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI). The effects of my Brain Injury, a year after my accident, are that my personality has changed. My family and friends have had to adjust to this, as have I. I also find it hard to feel emotion now; however, I don’t get nervous anymore like I did before my accident. Fatigue, not tiredness, but real fatigue is a problem, as my brain has to use other pathways to get a job done, so its energy drains quickly. I also struggle with my short-term memory, which is annoying but I now use my phone to remind me of everything. I also lost my sense of smell which I miss because you don’t realise how much you use smell every day. At least I can still taste food! These may sound like silly little things but all together, they make me a very different person and I have a very different life from where a 23 year old normally is in life.
How My Life Has Changed I am more dependent on my family than I was before my brain injury. When I first got back home, I was very reliant on people for help and reminders which they wrote onto a weekly timetable. I’m not yet able to return to work and I lost my driving licence because of my brain injury.
I’ve noticed that people who were friends are now acquaintances and just people I know. I only now have one real friend so that is a big change as I feel isolated and alone unless I’m at Headway Essex.
How Headway Essex Helped Me Headway Essex have helped me with understanding my personality and attitude towards other people. A group of us who met through Headway meet socially and we all talk and get along well, it’s a great group! We understand the issues we face on a daily basis and all learn from each other, which is extremely helpful. Headway Essex has helped me with memory aids and now I am no longer dependent on my family to remind me of things. I use my smart phone calendar and reminder alerts, notes for shopping and other little lists. I have learnt to put things in obvious places so I see & find them, otherwise I’d lose things and remembering where you last saw it is difficult if you don’t remember recent things clearly.
Set a Positive Goal and Aim for It Headway Essex understand my goals and help me achieve those successfully using interim goals and actions. I live at home with my parents and I can’t buy my own house, as I’m not earning any money….yet. Therefore, my ultimate goal is to get my driving licence back and return to work. Set a positive goal and aim for it!
Headway Essex News ~ 11
Get
Involved Would you like to share your story? We welcome stories from our clients and carers. If you would like to share your story with us please contact our fundraising team on 01206 845945 or email fundraising@headwayessex.org.uk
DIY Fundraising Headway Essex relies on fundraising to continue to provide vital services to brain injury survivors and their families. Fundraising can give you an amazing sense of achievement. It also gives you an opportunity to have fun, try new challenges and meet new people. There are many different ways you could fundraise for us, to make sure no one has to cope alone in living with acquired brain injury. Whether you want to hold a bake sale, organise an event or get sponsorship for an activity, there are so many ways you can get involved. There is a fundraising guide on our website www.headwayessex. org.uk or you can email our fundraising team at fundraising@ headwayessex.org.uk who would be happy to help you. We couldn’t run our services without your support so why not get involved today?
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. By making a regular donation you can make a huge difference. 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.
Headway Essex News ~ 12
Community Support Groups Support Group Meetings
Carers Support Group Meetings
North East Essex From 7.00pm to 9.00pm Tuesday 2 July No meeting in August Tuesday 3 September Tuesday 1 October
North East Essex From 10.30am to 12.30pm Friday 26 July No meeting in August Friday 27 September Friday 25 October
South Essex From 7.00pm to 9.00pm Tuesday 9 July No meeting in August Tuesday 10 September Tuesday 8 October
South Essex From 7.00pm to 9.00pm Thursday 25 July No meeting in August Thursday 26 September Thursday 24 October
Mid Essex From 10.00am to 12.00pm Tuesday 16 July No meeting in August Tuesday 17 September Tuesday 15 October
West Essex From 12.30pm to 2pm Tuesday 23 July No meeting in August Tuesday 24 September Tuesday 22 October
West Essex From 10.00am - 12.00pm Tuesday 23 July No meeting in August Tuesday 24 September Tuesday 22 October
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 845945 (Option 1) communitysupport@headwayessex.org.uk
Headway Essex News ~ 13
Other News Tara Wins Volunteer Award One of our clients Tara McIntyre has been awarded the Inspiration Role Model Award in the Braintree District Volunteer Awards 2019 for her volunteering at Headway Essex. We are all very proud of Tara and extremley grateful for all of her hard work.
We WON the 2019 Small Charity Week Competition
From the 17th - 22nd of June was Small Charity Week and we took place in their annual competition. We asked people to tell us why they love Headway Essex and pose for a picture, which were posted accross social media. The charity with the most messages wins! We are so grateful to have such amazing support, thank you to everyone who took part to help Headway Essex!
Barleylands Walk - Billericay Headway Essex will once again be supporting the Barleyland event organised by the Fun Walk Trust, held at Barleylands Farm, Billericay. We would like as many people as possible to take part and walk in aid of Headway Essex, everything raised in sponsorship is match funded by the Fun Walk Trust. There are 3 beautiful routes, the longest walk is no more than 2 miles and there is a shorter walk for families and toddlers plus a shorter walk option for people with mobility issues, all routes have Marshals for guidance. If you’re interested in taking part, get in touch with the fundraising team on 01206 845945 or email fundraising@headwayessex.org.uk
Headway Essex News ~ 14
Headway Essex training to tackle ‘hidden’ aspects of brain injury How can you recognise and manage the ‘hidden’ symptoms of brain injury and support that person in their recovery? Even subtle behavioural and cognitive changes can put a person at risk, which can be a source of concern for the relatives, carers and professionals supporting them. By attending a Headway Essex Understanding Brain Injury training course delegates are given the opportunity to: - Learn more about the nature of acquired brain injury (ABI) and why it is sometimes called a ‘hidden disability’ - Gain a greater understanding of cognitive, psychological, behavioural and physical aspects of brain injury and be able to apply this newfound knowledge - Draw on real-life examples and how to adapt their support to help someone living with ABI - Understand the wider impact of ABI on relationships - Become better informed of the local resources available Headway Essex also run training in Cognitive Rehabilitation after Brain Injury and Behaviours that Challenge following ABI. All our training courses are delivered by Steve Shears MSc. Steve has a wealth of experience as a psychotherapist specialising in working with people living with acquired brain injury. If you are interested in finding out more about our training courses, or would like to register your interest in attending a future course, please e-mail steve.shears@headwayessex.org.uk.
In Memory Donations Celebrating a Life
We are always incredibly touched and grateful to receive donations linked to someone special. Fundraising in memory of someone is a touching way to remember a loved one - creating a lasting tribute by celebrating their life, whilst helping others at the same time.
We realise that everyone is different, so there are a number of ways you could choose to fundraise for Headway Essex in memory of someone dear to you: • Make a donation in the name of your loved one • Hold a collection at a funeral or memorial • Take on a fundraising challenge in their memory • Create an online tribute fund either through Virgin Money or Just Giving
We will always respect your privacy and ensure your donation is used for the greatest impact. You can find more information about In Memory Donations on our Website, or please call our fundraising team who will handle your enquiry sensitively and help to guide you. You can reach the fundraising team on 01206 845945 or email fundraising@headwayessex.org.uk Headway Essex News ~ 15
Thanks
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 845945 (Option 4) 6th Floor Annex, Wellington House 90-92 Butt Road, Colchester, Essex, CO3 3DA
COMMUNITY SUPPORT: communitysupport@headwayessex.org.uk 01206 845945 (Option 1) 6th Floor Annex, Wellington House 90-92 Butt Road, Colchester, Essex, CO3 3DA
THE HEADWAY CENTRE: dayservice@headwayessex.org.uk 01206 845945 (Option 2) The Headway Centre, Woodland Walk, Colchester, CO4 6DH
FACEBOOK: @headway.essex TWITTER: @headwayessex INSTAGRAM: @headwayessex
www.headwayessex.org.uk
Registered Charity Number 1008807