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This article was published on May 6th, 2020
From the 11th May – 18th May, people and organisations across the UK, including our team at Thorneycroft Solicitors, will be showing their support for Action for Brain Injury Week.
The aim of the week is to raise awareness of brain injury and give a voice to those affected,
Brain injury is a subject that is very close to our heart here at Thorneycroft, having had the opportunity to get to know many victims that have suffered brain injuries, as well as handling numerous brain injury compensation claims, and see first-hand the devastation that can be caused following a brain injury.
We have also developed strong relationships with a number of charities and organisations that provide vital support and treatment for both victims of a brain injury, as well as their families and loved ones.
To celebrate the amazing work that these organisations do and to help raise awareness during Action for Brain Injury Week, we’ve compiled a list of said organisations that we have had the pleasure to work alongside in recent years, and we will also highlight the fantastic work that they can do.
Headway is a UK-wide charity that focuses on improving and enriching the lives of those who have suffered a brain injury.
The charity was initially registered in 1980 and in 1991 HRH Diana, Princess of Wales became a patron, a position which her son HRH Prince Harry has continued. When Headway opened their new premises in 2013, HRH Prince Harry made it his first solo engagement.
Since its conception Headway’s mission has been to improve life after brain injury.
Today, Headway now has over 125 groups across the UK, providing life-changing support to the victims of brain injury and their loved ones.
One of Headway’s key objectives is to not only help with the rehabilitation of brain injury victims but to educate and raise awareness about the issue as well.
They have published several educational resources aimed at educating individuals and organisations about acquired brain injuries including traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) tumours, strokes, and brain haemorrhages.
You can browse their library of educational resources by clicking here.
Headway boasts over 100 groups, and the charity has both local and national branches. The local and national branches of the charity can help those who have suffered a brain injury by facilitating various rehabilitation programmes and establishing a support network for the injured party and their loved ones.
The charity also offers support and advice to carers and can assist individuals with their social reintegration, this is particularly beneficial to victims of a brain injury who are struggling with psychological issues following their accident.
Each branch of the charity will endeavour to give each brain injury victim the care and support they need, however, their services vary from one centre to another due to their location and resources.
Those who suffer a brain injury can face very serious financial implications in the aftermath of their accident. Brain injuries can often mean that the victim can face an extended period of time off work whilst they undertake rehabilitative treatment or they may not be able to return to work at all.
In order to alleviate some of the financial pressure in the immediate aftermath of their accident, the charity set up the Headway Emergency
Fund to help ease the financial burden for adults who have acquired a brain injury. The Emergency Fund issues grants of up to £500 to help with living costs and other financial commitments.
Anyone in the UK who has suffered a brain injury is eligible to apply for one of Headway’s grants.
If you’d like to learn more about the Headway Emergency Fund click here.
As well as the various locations that the charity carries out incredible work, they also have a helpline for those who need advice or support without having to attend one of the charity’s branches.
It is open from 9am-5pm, Monday to Friday and is free and confidential. It is open to anyone who has a question about brain injuries, whether they have acquired one or not.
The helpline is run by a team of medical professionals which is comprised of trained nurses and non-clinical staff who will put your mind at ease regarding any aspect of brain injuries.
They will also share their advice and direct you to your nearest Headway branch should wish to see someone in person.
However, whilst the advisors on the helpline will endeavour to do all they can to help, they won’t be able to give medical advice or legal advice, although they will be able to direct you to the correct people or organisations that can help with your issue.
Our team also have a strong working relationship with the Brain and Spinal Injury Centre. The team at BASIC help hundreds of people each year who have suffered a brain or spinal injury.
For those of you who are unfamiliar with BASIC, they are a charity that was founded by Bolton Businessman Derek Gaskell. Originally the charity was known as Neurological Research, before being relaunched as BASIC in 1994.
BASIC is now affiliated with the Greater Manchester Clinical Neuroscience Centre. Since it was established as a registered charity, BASIC has provided outstanding support and counselling for both victims of brain and spinal injuries and their families.
BASIC aim to help people with every aspect of brain and spinal injuries.
They provide access to high-quality rehabilitation programmes that carers or guardians can utilise to help their clients of loved ones with their recovery.
The charity also ensure the families and friends of those who have suffered brain or spinal injuries receive the support they may need as well as the resources and rehabilitative programmes they may wish to implement for their loved ones to help with their recovery.
Most importantly BASIC provides essential rehabilitative services to the individuals who have suffered a life-changing brain or spinal injury, ensuring they receive the highest levels of treatment during their recovery in state of the art facilities.
You can learn more about the services BASIC provide by clicking here and you can follow their activities during Action for Brain Injury Week by following their social media channels.
BIRT are also taking part and supporting Action for Brain Injury week.
Our catastrophic injury team have worked alongside the Brain Injury Rehabilitation Trust for many years and have had the privilege of speaking at several of the charity’s annual seminars.
We continue to work closely with them to ensure that each of our clients has the opportunity to benefit from their services where appropriate.
The Brain Injury Rehabilitation Trust (BIRT) is a division within The Disabilities Trust.
They are dedicated to providing support to those who have suffered a brain injury. They aim to provide the best quality neurobehavioral rehabilitation for people with complex brain injuries and they are committed to finding new and innovative solutions to help treat those who have sustained brain injuries in the UK.
Thanks to the clinical expertise and outstanding facilities that the charity possesses, they are able to provide those who have suffered a brain injury with a recovery plan that suits their exact needs, giving them the best possible chance of recovery, to help them regain maximum independence.
BIRT also offers vital support for the loved ones of those who have suffered a brain injury, providing them with expert guidance and advice in what can be a traumatic period of their life.
Our team are fully supporting Action for Brain Injury Week once again this year, however our support for brain injury victims doesn’t end there.
If you or a loved one have suffered a brain injury and are seeking legal advice, our team of brain injury solicitors can help.
We take a holistic approach to all of our brain injury cases, first ensuring that the health and wellbeing of our clients takes priority and that rehabilitative treatment is in place as soon as possible following a brain injury.
Our team will then work with you to advise you on the steps that you should take next following a brain injury.
They will be by your side both during the claims process and beyond, to ensure you receive the support and treatment both you and your family may need, as well as securing financial compensation that can help you with any future losses you may have as a result of your brain injury.
If you’d like to arrange your free initial consultation, please contact us for free on 0800 1979 345 or complete our online enquiry form by clicking here.