HEADLINES. Thank you for your support

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1 Thank you for your support TEXT GIVING You can make an instant one off donation by texting HEAD18 5 to There is no additional charge for this service. Thank you to all our volunteers and everyone who has recently donated to Headway Hertfordshire. Your continued donations allow us to carry on supporting people affected by acquired traumatic brain injury, their carers and their families. With thanks to our partners... HEADLINES Winter 2014 Congratulations to Kerry Kirby who was nominated for the Headway Annual Awards 2013 which celebrates outstanding contribution to Headway and survivors of brain injury. Kerry s case manager nominated her in recognition of her achievements over the last three years. During this time she has moved away from her parents home and has become increasingly independent with the support of her carers and she also travels regularly on her own. She attends the Watford Reconnect group and also volunteers at a local farm.

2 Our Services and contact details General News Headway Hertfordshire s services are designed to meet the needs of people affected by brain injury and their carers. Our services include: Information, advice and support to access other services. Self-help guides and materials to help you understand brain injury. Home and hospital visits we will help you identify what you want to do, plan how to achieve your goals and provide support along the way. Community based groups and activities. Peer support. Volunteer-led activities and outings. Support for carers and education workshops. Counselling for people with brain injury and/or their carers. Vocational skills workshops. Support to prepare for and access, work, training, volunteering or activities that help improve physical or emotional wellbeing. Visit our website at Or telephone Or enquiries@headwayherts.org.uk Or write: 30 Campus Five, Letchworth, SG6 2JF Health Walks The Health Walks programme is an accredited countywide programme of free walks led by trained volunteers, which aims to help everyone get outdoors, get more active and reap the benefits. Health walks are an ideal way of taking exercise because they re suitable for all ages and abilities; local, short and free; sociable and friendly; help to strengthen your heart, muscles and bones and are good for your wellbeing, helping to de-stress and increase your confidence. All walks are graded in order to cater to all abilities and to give you an idea of what to expect so you can choose the most suitable walk for you. You don t need special equipment - just comfortable shoes! For further information contact Headway on and we can give you the details of your nearest branch. You can also visit the website directly for more information at

3 Fundraising News Welcome Fundraising Event at Mill Green Golf Club Peter Holgate, one of our Headway clients who attends the Watford Habit Group, brought a cheque to Headway in October, with money raised from a fundraising event at the Mill Green Golf Club, near Welwyn Garden City. Peter, who is a member of the Golf Club, informed us that the event was organised by his friend, Chris Myers, Captain of the SOS Golf Society there. Although the Golf Club's main Charity for the year is the Herts Air Ambulance, it was decided to do a separate fundraising event for Headway Hertfordshire and the Help for Heroes charities. Teams of four people entered the event and all together there were approximately 100 people who took part. It was a mixed competition and covered 18 holes of golf and each team added up their collective scores. After the event, the participants enjoyed a social gathering, with food and a raffle. Peter spoke on Headway's behalf to give thanks to all those who took part. The money will go towards rehab equipment for the Habit and Reconnect Groups in Watford. Welcome to our winter edition of the newsletter. I would like to thank Phil Good for winning the Name Our Magazine competition, with the winning name of Headlines, which will now be used on all our newsletters. We can offer you two new factsheets: Prosopagnosia: face blindness after brain injury and Making a complaint about health and social care services. If you would like a factsheet or to talk to use about these issues please enquiries@headway-herts.org.uk or call: Headway HealthUnlocked community, is an online forum dedicated to brain injury. Participants share valuable knowledge, experience and support. Visit: and have your say. As always, I am very keen to hear from clients and carers so if you would like to tell your story or have your say about our services, please do contact me. Karyn Jones, Chief Executive 10 3

4 Access to Work Scheme A Client s Story At Headway we do everything we can to help clients back into employment following a brain injury and we understand that it can be a difficult road to take. There are several avenues of help available and one of these is the Access to Work scheme. It is designed to help overcome the barriers disabled people face when getting and staying in work. The Access to Work scheme has set aside 2 million to help disabled people take up their placements. The scheme provides practical advice and gives grants towards extra employment costs from your disability, including the following: The story doesn t end there. As he crossed the finishing line, Chris proposed to his partner who has given him so much support throughout his amazing recovery. They plan to get married in January So congratulations and a great big thank you to Chris from everyone at Headway Hertfordshire. Special Aids or equipment Help with travel cost to work if public transport cannot be used because you are disabled i.e. use of a taxi. Adapting to existing premises (not new) and existing equipment. A support worker to provide help in the work place and for support in job interviews. An interpreter or lip reader when you need to be meeting or communicating with others. (From left to right Chris and Raymond ) 4 9

5 A Client s Story Access to Work Scheme Half Marathon run for Headway Chris, a volunteer with the Watford Reconnect group, completed the Luton half marathon in October, the first one he s ever done, and raised almost 1000 for Headway. What makes this story even more incredible is that Chris did this only six months after sustaining a severe brain injury from an unprovoked assault. He was in a coma for 10 days and had to undergo a craniectomy in May His last surgery was in July and at that point Chris decided to set himself a goal to run the half-marathon in October. Chris s partner helped and supported him all the way through his recovery and by October he was indeed ready to take his place on the start line for the Love Luton Half Marathon with his friend, Raymond Logue, who helped him get through the race and with all the fundraising. Chris raised almost 1000, half of which is going to Headway UK and the other half has been donated directly to Headway Hertfordshire. Who can get help? You may be eligible if you have a disability and are employed, self-employed or unemployed and have a job to start. It also covers those who have impairments and health conditions that are only apparent in the work place. Traditionally Access to Work mainly helped people with sensory or physical impairments but it is increasingly becoming available for people with mental health conditions and those who have memory issues. If you feel you may qualify for help from the Access to Work scheme, you can call to make an application or alternatively we will make the call on your behalf and help you in any way we can. Written by Margaret McCann, Headway Hertfordshire, volunteer. Headway Hertfordshire is a Company Limited by Guarantee, registered in England and Wales, number Registered address: 30 Campus Five Letchworth SG62JF. Registered Charity number

6 New Volunteers New Volunteers Headway Hertfordshire would like to welcome the following new volunteers: Tom Clayton Tom started with Headway in September and helps out at the Welwyn Habit Group. He recently gained a degree in Linguistics and is now hoping to go and train as a Speech and Language Therapist. Caroline Dickson Caroline, Holistic Therapist and Integrative Counsellor, has been volunteering with Headway since September 2013 helping with both the Carer Support Group and those affected by Brain Injury. She has just started to offer carers and clients counselling either at home or from the Great Hadham Golf Club.near Bishop Stortford. Frankie Payne Frankie started at Watford Reconnect in October but has recently got a great new job which unfortunately means she can t come to the group any more. However, she still hopes to support Headway in whatever way she can when time allows. Reena Lathia Reena joins the Letchworth office providing the support for a variety of marketing projects including design work, newsletter coordination, website and event activities. Hannah Simpson Hannah is a volunteer at Reconnect and Habit in Watford. She is helping some clients on the Cogmed programme and has been involved in all aspects of the programme. She has a degree in psychology and plans to become a psychologist after further training. Ian Bryant Ian started as a volunteer with the Watford Reconnect group in January. He has personal experience of major brain trauma and now wants to use the skills and strengths he has acquired to help and encourage other people in similar situations to get mobile again. Sue Egan Sue has retired from the library service and is now an office assistant at Headway Hertfordshire. Sue also volunteers for Oxfam and Herts Society for the Blind. 6 7