Spring Newsletter

“No matter how long the winter, spring is sure to follow.” - English Proverb

Headway Somerset Stars Promote Our Services

Thanks to the National Lottery Community Fund for funding Making Headway we have been able to work with Somerset Film to produce two new videos about our work and volunteering opportunities. See below one of the films

Working Together to do Better for People Living with ABI in Somerset

More than 90 delegates attended the conference held in February 2023. This was a great opportunity for a wide range of people including those with lived experience of acquired brain injury, family members and professionals, to get together and learn from each other. The theme of the conference was collaboration, and we were delighted to welcome speakers from Somerset NSH Foundation Trust, Heads For Change and the Headway UK Justice Project. Workshops were held on Collaboration, Ambiguous Loss and by the Integrated Care Board working together on hopes and ideas to inform the review of neuro rehabilitation in Somerset. Delegates were asked to pledge how they would collaborate better together, and we will be following these pledges up by the end of June. Thank you for attending.

CEO Leaving

After twenty-five years working in the charity sector in Somerset, four and a half of them at Headway Somerset, Liz Simmons has decided to retire at the end of June. Recruitment for a new CEO is already underway. Liz said ‘I’ve loved my time at Headway Somerset, it’s a small organisation but we’re able to make a big difference to so many people’s lives. It’s the right time for me to move on but it is a great opportunity for someone to take the organisation forward.’ We wish Liz well and hope to bring you news of our new CEO in the next Newsletter.

Headway Somerset Open Day

Join us at our Yeovil Rehab Centre on Tuesday 16th May 2023 11am - 2pm at Abbey Manor Community Centre, Yeovil, BA21 3TL to learn about our services:

Speak to staff to get information, advice, and support.
Speak to others affected by ABI.
Chat with Making Headway team members who will be hosting a Talking Café session. Along with drinks and cake, we are there to listen and offer help and support.
Join a craft session, and find out about the benefits of crafting

More information will be coming out soon. If you're in the area come along between 11am - 2pm. We are looking forward to meeting you.

Family members, colleagues and professionals are welcome to join us

Headway Somerset Fundraising Update -

Training is going well for Fran and Vee who will be climbing Mount Kilimanjaro in July. If you can support them to support us, you can donate via the link below

We are coming to the end of our spell as their charity of the year with Taunton and Pickeridge Golf Club and will soon be collecting a donation from them very soon, watch this space for the final amount!

We need your help! Do you have any business connections or run a business? We would love to be your charity of the year, and work with you to raise much needed funds for Headway Somerset. Get in touch to find out more and how we might be able to support your business.

Too early for Christmas? How would you like your photo to be on this years Headway Somerset Christmas card? We want something that shows the beautiful county we live in with a festive feel. Snowy scenes? Festive animals? Let your imagination run wild. Email your picture to Krista@headwaysomerset.org.uk Closing date Monday 14 August 2023

Please get in touch if you would like to help - krista@headwaysomerset.org.uk

A Massive thank you to Taunton & Pickeridge Golf Club

We have had the pleasure of being the Captain and Lady Captains charity of the year at Taunton & Pickeridge Golf Club. I was delighted to receive a cheque for £8562. This money will make a difference to the lives of the people we work with.

Thank you

NEW – Family and Supporters Guide

How do people find out about Headway Somerset?

One of our greatest challenges as a small local charity is making sure that people who need our support find out about us at the right time. We believe that the sooner individuals with an acquired brain injury and their families or supporters get information about our services the better – this usually means while they are still in hospital. Many of you will know Wendy Copeman and Jane Allin our Hospital Liaison Workers who visit and make contact with people in Yeovil District Hospital, Musgrove Park Hospital, SNRC and the community hospitals. We now have a new booklet a ‘Family and Supporters Guide to Acquired Brain Injury –Somerset’ which brings together all the key information, resources and contacts. The booklet also outlines support available from Headway Somerset and how to contact us. Copies will be available through central office or Wendy and Jane.

Download your copy today !

Women’s Group -

The Women's Group meets by zoom every fortnight. Sarah, Mandy, Lorraine, Bianca and new member Natasha all have personal experience of an ABI. Sessions include sharing how things are going, pooling ideas to help anyone who's got a problem, and as they all have craft hobbies, getting to see latest progress on art, needlecraft, creative recycling of jars and cards. The group are currently making items for sale at a stall we'll have at Shepton Mallet's Collett Park Day in June.

Peer support and companionship are important, partly because each member of the group truly understands what it means to live with an ABI, and also because sharing stories and ways of getting on with life can be motivating.

The group also believe in learning to love and support yourself, encouraging each other to remember how important self care is.

We're hoping to open up another group soon so if you are familiar enough with zoom to join a meeting online let us know. tricia@headwaysomerset.org.uk

Hospital Liaison -

Join Jane and Wendy for the Family and Supporter Zoom sessions. Dates for your diary for this years meetings are:

Wednesday 3 May 2023

Tuesday 4 July 2023

Thursday 7 September 2023

All sessions run from 7pm to 8:15pm. For more information please email jane.allin@headwaysomerset.org.uk or wendy.copeman@headwaysomerset.org.uk

Action for Brain Injury Week 15 – 19 MAY

Every 90 seconds, someone in the UK is admitted to hospital with an acquired brain injury.

Our local contribution to ABI Week is a focus on Somerset schools to raise awareness. We have prepared a pack for each primary and secondary school across the county with a range of materials, worksheets and activities for teachers to use. If these schools would like to run a fundraiser for us that would be great as well.

Want to change how you receive these emails?
You can update your preferences or unsubscribe