1. Provide support near you
Headway's local groups and branches are available across the UK, providing a wide range of services to people affected by brain injury, including brain injury rehabilitation programmes, carer support, social re-integration, community outreach and respite care.
The services available will vary, so contact your nearest Headway to find out how they can help.
2. Give you the confidence to handle everyday situations
Carrying an official Headway Brain Injury Identity Card can provide you with the confidence to know that if you need help, your needs can be easily identified, whether in social situations, or if you come into contact with police officers or other emergency services
3. Be there to listen when you just need someone who understands
The Headway helpline (tel: 0808 800 2244, email: helpline@headway.org.uk) is a free, confidential service available to anyone with a question about brain injury - from survivors and carers to students and professionals.
We can discuss a wide range of issues relating to brain injury, from the initial injury and its effects, to long-term rehabilitation and support.
4. Help you in times of emergency
Our Emergency Fund provides grants of up to £500 in the immediate aftermath of brain injury, to help brain injury survivors and their families cope with the sudden practical implications.
The Headway Acute Trauma Support nurses also provide vital assistance and support to families whose loved ones are in hospital following a brain injury. HATS nurses can provide support to families from the point of admission, providing continuity through to discharge and in outpatient clinics.
We've also launched an innovative new website called I'm calling about Chris in order to help people keep family and friends updated on the condition of a loved one following brain injury.
5. Welcome you to a supportive online community
Through our social media communities such as the HealthUnlocked discussion forum and our Facebook page, we aim to give you the chance to connect online with other people who are affected by brain injury. The communities are primarily for people with a brain injury, their family and carers, but anyone is welcome to join in the conversation.
You can also stay in touch on Twitter and YouTube.
6. Help you to understand and adapt to brain injury
Headway's range of e-booklets and factsheets cover many of the symptoms and practical issues associated with a brain injury, and you can download them for free in our information library.
We also offer bespoke 'in-house' training events where we come to you. These are perfect for social service departments, health professionals, care agencies and other interested organisations - where more than one person within an organisation might benefit from specific brain injury training.
7. Give details of specialist support in your area
We can also help you find a specialist solicitor with experience in handling brain injury cases. Each of the solicitors featured in our Head Injury Solicitors Directory has agreed to work within the Headway Personal Injury Lawyers code of conduct, which tells you about the service you can expect from your solicitor.
Headway has also developed the Approved Provider scheme, an accreditation scheme open to residential care settings. This includes NHS and independent hospitals, neuro-rehabilitation units, residential and nursing homes and respite facilities, specialising in acquired brain injury.
Find brain injury services near you on our easy map-based search page.
8. Give you a voice
If you want to let people know how you are dealing with life after brain injury, or have a subject you want to raise awareness about, share your story with us. We publish a wide range of personal stories on our Brain injury and me website.
There are plenty of other opportunities to share your experiences, contribute to campaigns or complete our surveys. Sign up to our Headway News Bitesize newsletter to make sure you don't miss out on the chance to get involved.
9. Keep you up-to-date with all the issues that matter
Our news section gives updates on all the big issues that affect brain injury survivors and their families, and our email bulletin Headway News Bitesize includes interesting features and stories.
If you join our Friends of Headway membership scheme, you’ll receive a free printed copy of our quarterly magazine Headway News, plus a wealth of other benefits.
10. Help you to write your Will
Why not make a resolution to create a Will this year, to ensure that your wishes are carried out when you are no longer here and also make a lasting difference to brain injury survivors.
We offer access to a free Will writing service through our Friends of Headway membership scheme. You do not need to include Headway in your Will to take advantage of this service, but we would be very grateful if you did.
Want to help us?
2019 marks Headway's 40th anniversary and to celebrate we've set up CHALLENGE 40. We're encouraging all you fabulous fundraisers to do whatever you choose – as long as it involves the number 40!
Back