Headway Surrey’s Key Support For People With Brain Injuries, Their Families And Carers

Published on: 19 Feb, 2018
Updated on: 20 Feb, 2018

By David Rose

It may be in a small building, tucked away at the end of a small road in Stoughton, but Headway Surrey uses it to the full providing cognitive rehabilitation, support and services for those affected by brain injury.

Brain injuries can be caused from people having a stroke, a heart attack, involved in an accident and encephalitis (inflamation of the brain) and many other causes. These result in physical, emotional, psychological and practical problems. A person’s life, career, relationship with family and friends, personal goals and ambitions can change in an instant.

The team at Headway Surrey.

Headway Surrey helps sufferers and carers in a number of ways:

People who attend its centre work in a group on cognitive rehabilitation exercises.

Its community support programme focuses on an individual’s needs. The aim is to develop a person’s independence, well-being and integration into their local community.

Headway Surrey provides cognitive rehabilitation, support and services for those affected by brain injury.

It operates a befriending service that helps sufferers tackle issues arising from loss of relationships with friends, family members and co-workers that often to lead to feelings of isolation and loneliness.

Its Chief Executive Officer is Sonja Freebody, who has four members of staff, plus help from a team of around 40 volunteers. She said: “We create a bespoke programme for each person who comes to us. We assess their cognitive issue and deficiencies and set achievable goals for their recovery, which will probably be slow and long term.”

She added that some people can’t come to terms their disability and recovery can certainly take time, often in small amounts. It can mean that those who look after them at home can suffer as well. Relationships can become strained as sufferers’ personalities may change. Those caring can become frustrated trying to understand the circumstances.

Headway Surrey therefore runs a carers’ support group that meets on the second Wednesday of the month, and a Coffee Morning on the second Friday of every month. People meet others in a similar situation. There is time to chat, share experiences and relax. A member of staff is on hand to answer any questions and provide information. On April 5, a new six-week Thursday Carers Mindfulness Group is starting and will run from 3.30pm, booking is essential and spaces are limited.

Its Friday drop-in sessions, held on the first Friday of the month, are open to those with acquired brain injury as well as their carers, family, friends, health professionals and potential volunteers. It is an informal day for people to meet and socialise. People can talk, relax, read the newspapers, play board games or pool. Coffee and tea is provided.

It has also set up a specialist one-to-one fishing group in Godalming, which starts on May 8. Again, numbers are limited and it must be booked in advance. It is also looking for experienced fishermen to volunteer and support in Godalming.

Headway Surrey is based at Headway House in North Road, Stoughton.

Kevin Martin has been going to Headway Surrey since July 2013. A painter and decorator by trade for 37 years, he fell off a ladder in 2013, suffering a head injury.

After he came out of hospital it was suggested he may benefit from attending Headway Surrey. He said: “I was confused at first, I thought it was another hospital I was being sent to.

“But they have given me confidence and I have regained a purpose in life. They have helped me to return to doing simple things like travelling on a bus. And I have now been volunteering with Surrey Care Trust.

“Although I am now leading a normal life and have a routine once more, I still come to Headway Surrey once a week. I still get a lot of support from Headway Surrey. It’s good to meet up with others and it helps me with my independence.”

Karen Bill ran the London Marathon in 2016 to raise money for Headway Surrey. In October that year she herself suffered a brain aneurysm and spent two weeks in hospital.

Thankfully she has recovered and started running again in 2017. She said: “I am doing an ultra marathon in Dorset called the Jurassic Challenge. It’s three marathons over three consecutive days. You can either run or walk it, or a combination of both.”

However, Karen plans to run the London Marathon again in 2019, once more for Headway Surrey.

Headway Surrey is registered as an independent charity, it needs to fundraise to maintain the services it provides.

It has eigth runners taking part in this year’s London Marathon on April 22. It is holding a sponsored walk on May 13. Schools and businesses are being encouraged to take part in May Hats for Headway Day on May 18. Participants can wear a “silly or sensible hat” and collect £1 to £2 per person. Headway Surrey is also looking for volunteers to hold a collecting box on May 26 in the centre of Guildford for an hour between 9am and 5pm, any offers to help are greatly accepted!

Plus there are further ways people can fundraise taking place throughout the year including a skydive on July 8, a charity auction and a mince pie morning in December.

Through its corporate friendship programme, Headway Surrey is seeking to strengthen existing business relationships, make new friends and work towards a more secure future for the services it provides.

Individual donations are always welcome. This can be done online at Virgin Money Giving. And for details for those who may like to leave a legacy, call 01483 455225.

It is always looking for more volunteers. There are a number of opportunities:

Headway Surrey has plenty of opportunities for volunteers to help out.

In the centre supporting clients – handwriting, drawing, reading, form filling, planning, learning memory strategies, helping to answering questions, computer work, playing games (crossword, cards, Scrabble, pool) and of course conversation.

Befriending volunteering – matching a person with brain injury with a volunteer who has similar interests.

At home organising your own fundraising event – a coffee morning, sponsored walk, garage or jumble sale, raffle, tombola, quiz night, Christmas jumper day, mince pie morning, Hats for Headway Day and more.

Out and about spreading information about Headway Surrey, telling friends and family, making sure there are leaflets in libraries, clinics and health centres.

Helping at awareness events, social media support, office admin support, gardening or as a trustee.

Headway Surrey’s helpline for clients, their families and carers is 01483 454433.

Email enquiries to: enquiries@headwaysurrey.org

Headway Surrey is at Headway House, North Road, Guildford GU2 9PU.

Click here for website.

Brain injuries result in physical, emotional, psychological and practical problems. A person’s life, career, relationship with family and friends, personal goals and ambitions can change in an instant.