Making Headway in the Community

Headway Cambridgeshire has secured five-year funding from the Big Lottery Fund for a project called Making Headway in the Community.

People in Cambridgeshire with a low to moderate acquired brain injury will get more personal development, learning opportunities, vocational skills, advice and guidance to improve their quality of life under this new project.

With its grant of £372,579 from BIG's Reaching Communities programme for five years, Headway Cambridgeshire will expand its project to support brain injury survivors and their families in Cambridgeshire.

The Making Headway in the Community project will employ a second community brain injury advisor so more people can get support when they are discharged from hospital and who will work with more GPs to ensure earlier referrals. The types of support on offer include drop-in centres, carers support groups, family education workshops and support groups for the children of people with an acquired brain injury. There will also be brain injury aware counselling services, online chatrooms and a telephone support helpline.

As brain injury survivors can have a range of problems such as short-term memory problems, lack of confidence and self-esteem, the support activities help them identify their skills and maximise their potential for independent living, preparing them to return to work or get training and education.

Ann Weitzel of Headway Cambridgeshire, said: "We are delighted to have received this award from the Big Lottery Fund. We can now put our plans in place to develop our specialist service within local communities throughout Cambridgeshire, to assist those affected by brain injury. We know there is a need to develop support networks for people who want to live independently in their own communities and our outreach team will now be able to give their support to those in need more locally. This award will enable us to make Headway Cambridgeshire's unique service more accessible to all."

Sara Betsworth, Big Lottery Fund Head of Region for the East of England, said: "Headway Cambridgeshire will make such a dramatic difference to the lives of many who are affected by brain injury. With this Reaching Communities Grant from BIG, they will provide a supportive environment to brain injury survivors and their families. We are delighted to support this project to help improve the quality of life of people who are experiencing a difficult time."

June 2009