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Headway is a national organisation which provides support
and information for people with brain injuries and their families, carers
and professionals who work in this field of healthcare. It was established
in 1979 and Headway Somerset is one of the 110 branches throughout England
and Wales which have evolved since those early days.
The main focus of the national organisation is to heighten awareness of brain injury and to campaign on behalf of its members through Parliament and other political channels. It achieves this through lobbying MPs, involvement in committees and other decision making bodies, membership of opinion forming groups and influence at more local levels. It works with other charities and health and social care professionals to press the case for increased recognition and resources for brain injury. There is no separate category for brain injury in terms of provision of general services, so it has to be included as part of learning disabilities or mental health, neither of which are appropriate. Headway is therefore campaigning for brain injury to be categorised separately from other physical and mental disabilities, due to its unique nature. Another method of raising the profile of brain injury is through publicity. Headway produces a number of excellent leaflets on brain injury and the services it provides, and every year there is a Brain Injury Awareness Week, during which local groups are encouraged to participate. Every year there is a particular theme and groups and branches arrange events and publicity around that theme. Headway also produces policy on important issues which affect or cause brain injury. For example, they have policies on the wearing of cycle helmets, the use of bull bars on cars, and sports which involve intentional damage to the head. Through targeted campaigns they aim to heighten awareness of the causes of brain injury and try to impact upon the type of accidents which result in injuries to the head. In support of their work they produce a range of publications written by experts covering all aspects of brain injury, as well as a quarterly magazine called "Headway News". They provide a 24 hour helpline service, which is there to support people with brain injury and particularly their carers. Headway will also provide information about legal matters, solicitors who specialise in accident claims, specialist rehabilitation units and a host of other brain injury related topics. If you wish to find out more about the information available please contact them through their website at www.headway.org.uk or one of the other methods shown at the end of this page. Headway UK also has an important role to play in supporting its 110 branches. They provide valuable support and advice in respect of employment law and procedures, policy guidance, fund-raising advice, training, briefings on related current affairs, best practice, networking between groups and access to business consultancy. They also arrange training sessions, conferences and seminars and provide support for regional groups. If you would like to know more about the work undertaken by Headway you can contact them through any of the following means: Post to: Headway UK, Phone to: 0115 924 0800 Fax to: 0115 958 4446 E-mail: info@headway.org.uk or through their website at www.headway.org.uk |
