News

ABI week 28th September – 4th October 2020

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One of the most common concerns from brain injury survivors is the profound impact that can have on their lives and relationships post brain injury. This year ABI week focuses on memory problems and how we can help patients and their families develop strategies using aids to remember everyday things.

In January 2020, Headway UK launched a survey into the effects of memory loss, to be completed by brain injury survivors or their family members and carers acting on their behalf. 

The results are striking, with 85% of survivors experiencing a negative impact on their lives and 65% feeling that their personal relationships have been negatively affected as a result of their memory problems.

At Headway Preston and Chorley we supply simple aids such as diaries, white boards, post-it pads to our members. We also talk through strategies to help cope with memory loss including using mobile phone Apps, alarms and devices such as Amazon’s Alexa.

Headway UK produces a booklet on memory problems after brain injury which you can download directly from their website or contact us for a hard copy.

I should be at the Golf Day but…!

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Our Headway Golf Day was originally scheduled to take place on Thursday 24th September. However, as with many charity events this year, we were forced to cancel due to Covid-19 restrictions. We simply would not have been able to organise the event to be as safe (and as fun!) as it should have been. 

Fletchers Golf Day last year raised over £10,000 for Headway Preston and Chorley; a huge amount of money that went on to support those affected by acquired brain injury and major trauma. Although we don’t expect to raise as much this year, we’re inviting you to join in our virtual campaign, in order to raise some of the funds the charity has missed out on in 2020:
Thank you to all who can donate.

https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/fletchers-golf

Preston brain injury charity needed now more than ever

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Local brain injury charity Headway Preston and Chorley is needed now more than ever according to the results of a survey published by Headway UK.

The survey, which explored the impact of COVID-19 on people affected by brain injury, found that more than half of brain injury survivors have lost access to rehabilitation services as a result of lockdown and are finding isolation very difficult.

Early rehabilitation following brain injury can be crucial in helping survivors to regain a degree of independence and relearn lost skills, including walking and talking. But 57% of those who sustained their injuries within the past two years say their access to rehabilitation and community groups has been negatively impacted.

A further 64% of those living with the long-term effects of brain injury reported a deterioration in their mental health as a result of the measures implemented to control the spread of COVID-19, while almost two thirds say they now fear for their futures.

The key findings revealed:

· 57% of people who sustained a brain injury within the past two years reported that their rehabilitation has been negatively impacted

· Two thirds of respondents reported a negative impact on their psychological wellbeing

· 62% of respondents fear for their future

· 50% have lost access to vital support that helps them to cope

· 42% say their rehabilitation has been negatively impacted

See attached press release for more information.

New COVID advice from local government is get tested with or without symptoms.

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People in Preston are now being encouraged to get tested with or without symptoms. 

There is a temporary walk-in testing station for people without symptoms to get tested at:

Issa Medical Centre 73 St Gregory Road Preston PR1 6YA

Those with symptoms including: a high temperature, a new, continuous cough, or a loss or change to your sense of smell or taste should ring NHS 119 first.

Protect your community today.

Lancashire COVID-19 Support Fund and National Emergencies Trust fund KIT

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Headway Preston and Chorley’s Keep In Touch project has secured £2933.00 of funding from the Lancashire COVID-19 Community Support Fund and National Emergencies Trust to continue the Keep In Touch (KIT) project into October.

The project which contacts people from Lancashire who are isolating or reducing contact with others, is assisting over 80 people every week.

Three trained staff offer regular contact, practical help and welfare calls from Headway Preston and Chorley to anyone affected by acquired brain injury or major trauma and their families and carers.

Liz Bamber, Headway Preston manager said, ‘Thanks to the Lancashire COVID-19 Community Support Fund and National Emergencies Trust we have been able to extend this lifeline beyond summer which is just brilliant. The service started as a result of our face to face community sessions being cancelled but everyone has enjoyed it so much, we now want to build KIT into our core services’.

June News

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Our June bulletin is all about keeping well and staying safe and to reassure our clients that we are thinking of them and available by telephone if they need us.

Keeping in Touch

Regular telephone calls during the lock down are proving to be a lifeline and many people download the bulletin to find out how to become involved.

Gentle Exercise Sessions by Catherine Mitchell

Catherine Mitchell, who usually runs our relaxation classes at the Activity Day, has made 5 videos of her sessions for anyone to follow online here.

Stay Alert, Control the Virus, Save Lives

Advice about staying safe due to COVID-19 is changing weekly. How and where to get your updates.

Learn from Home

Lancashire Adult Learning has moved online due to current and they are providing opportunities for learning across the county. Find out more here.

Welfare benefits update

Universal Credit, New Style ESA, PIP and Attendance Allowance if you need help contact us 07557123493

Headway Preston and Chorley sets up online exercise classes to help with wellbeing in isolation

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Headway Preston and Chorley has set up specialist online exercise classes to help brain injury survivors with their physical and mental wellbeing during lockdown.

Headway Preston and Chorley has set up specialist online exercise classes to help brain injury survivors with their physical and mental wellbeing during lockdown.

One of the charity’s fitness instructors Catherine Mitchell runs the classes on YouTube. She said: “It’s important that during these uncertain times, we take the time to focus not only on our physical wellbeing, but on our mental wellbeing too.

“The gentle exercise classes have proven of critical importance in maintaining positive attitudes for our members in what are incredibly unsettling times for us all.

“Just as they did beforehand, the virtual classes aim to cultivate a caring attitude towards our bodies, something that can be a struggle for brain injury survivors who may have experienced physical changes following their injury.

“These sessions help our members to accept those changes within their body and implement new forms of exercise tailored to their abilities.”

More than 60 brain injury survivors have gotten involved with the virtual classes, with a great response from all participants.

The gentle exercise classes are also supported by telephone calls with members to guide them through the different movements and activities, as well as written instructions for those who may struggle to keep up with the pace of the videos.

But as with any other service, these classes have come at a cost to the charity.

Liz Bamber, Project Manager at Headway Preston and Chorley said: “Small charities like ours need help to continue supporting those who rely on us every day – both during and after COVID-19.

“The closure of our day centre has the potential to cause huge disruption to the lives and wellbeing of our service users, so it’s been our top priority to ensure that we continue to provide some kind of support to keep our members safe and connected.

“Our grants are on hold, events are cancelled, donations are down and that means our clients could be without support. Now more than ever, we rely on generous donations to continue our vital work in the community. To find out more go to https://headwaycentrallancashire.org.uk/headway-preston-gentle-exercise/

To donate go to: https://headwaycentrallancashire.org.uk/how-to-donate/

Headway Preston and Chorley receives £152,000 in National Lottery funding to support major trauma patients at the Royal Preston Hospital

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A total of £152,000 in National Lottery funding has been awarded to local charity Headway Preston and Chorley to continue a voluntary support service for patients who have suffered a major trauma injury.

The money will be used to provide support on a daily basis, helping more than 2,000 patients per year for the next 3 years.

Last year, the charity ran a pilot project for patients who have suffered a major trauma injury to find out if their service could be beneficial to other patients going through life-changing injuries. The outcome was staggering, with all 257 patients who accessed the service rating it ‘very good’ and ‘excellent’.

Liz Bamber, Project Manager at Headway Preston and Chorley, has led the charity since it began after her eldest son sustained a severe traumatic brain injury through a road traffic collision. She realised from her own family’s experience that the community was struggling to provide support to local families when they needed it the most.

Liz said: “We’re delighted that The National Lottery Community Fund has recognised our work in this way. Now, thanks to National Lottery players, we will be able to increase our service to patients and help them overcome practical problems after a major trauma injury including brain injury. This funding will make a huge difference and is vital because it helps families to deal with a sudden change to their lives. The service is available to patients and their families as soon as they need it, and most issues can be dealt with before they are discharged from hospital.”

Karen Partington, Chief Executive at Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, said: “We are thrilled that Headway Preston and Chorley has received funding to expand and continue what is a fantastic source of support. The lives of the patients and their loved ones using this service have often changed dramatically and rapidly, and this daily service means there will always be help, support and advice whenever they need it. We are extremely grateful to the team and all that they do for our community.”

Thanks to the National Lottery Community Fund, the Major Trauma Patient Support Service will now be developed further, providing help to patients at the bedside with welfare benefits claims, access to free legal information, support with housing and employment issues -all of which may arise as a consequence of a sudden life-changing injury.

TSB cash boost for HWPC

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The TSB in Preston have awarded Headway Preston and Chorley £769.45 from their latest fundraising for the charity. The cheque was presented to Laura Brown and Kayleigh Weaver by TSB Manager Karrin Burrows and the staff at TSB in Fishergate.n

Penwortham family raises money in memory of aunt Komal

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The Parehk family from Penwortham have been raising money in memory of their much loved auntie Komal who sadly passed away in 2018. Komal was a happy bubbly person and she treated all her nephews as her own. They all just felt it was right for us to do this in her memory so set up a Virgin Money page and all took part in the preston 10K run 2019.

Family member Vijay Parekh said, “we wanted to raise money in her memory and chose Headway Preston and Chorley. My nephew Hiten wanted to do something as well for Fujibaa (this is what he called her) so he raised the £120 offline donations through his school by organising a charity football match and collecting donations this way. It is special thanks to Hiten for doing what he did”.