Who are we?
We are Headway Kent, the leading independent brain injury charity in Kent. We were founded in 1989 by Kent residents with lived experience of brain injury. We are committed to improving life after brain injury for the residents of Kent. Types of acquired brain injury (ABI) can include a brain tumour, car accident, work accident, cancers, meningitis, stroke, aneurysm, and many more causes. ABI’s can result in significant physical disabilities, memory loss, confusion, learning disabilities, loss of capacity/judgment, behavioural changes which causes someone’s behaviour to be uncharacteristic. No brain injury survivor or carer/loved one, should struggle alone after a brain injury - an event that will be life changing for many. The NHS will do everything they can for you medically and we are then the next link in your recovery journey. We work with you, for you.
What do we do?
Brain injury is complicated. It affects people in lots of different ways, and not all of them are visible. In fact, brain injury is often referred to as a hidden disability. In many cases, people with a brain injury are offered generic support for a physical disability, which makes only a limited difference. This not only represents poor value for money for commissioners, but it can also lead to a deterioration in health, wellbeing and relationships, requiring additional intervention for both survivors and their families. At Headway Kent, we offer a range of services specifically tailored to the needs of people affected by brain injury. Most importantly and uniquely, we always work in partnership with those we support. We know our members are experts in their own injury and needs; that only they can tell us what is most important to them. We combine this expertise with our own, empowering people affected by brain injury to explore new identities, developing new skills and interests along the way.
How do we work?
Our primary aim is to support people as individuals using a 'what matters to me' outlook in the most person centred way possible. Our holistic approach means that services are co-produced in response to individuals’ needs, desires, and ambitions, and to promote independence. This means that improvement can be varied from one person to another; to provide robust evaluations of how we work with brain injury survivors, we use a variety of different outcome tools. The tools are important as any funder, commissioner or donor, wants (and deserves) to see that we value individual progress; that we are a progressive organisation, and their money is going to good use. We also need to demonstrate value for money by trialling and testing new ideas to see if any added value can be brought to the charity. We are open to change, being progressive and agile in adapting new methodology proven to promote brain injury rehabilitation.
Why are we needed?
We all think 'it will never happen to me', but every year around 350,000 people are admitted to hospital with an acquired brain injury. That's one every 90 seconds!
Brain injury can challenge every aspect of your life - walking, talking, thinking and feeling – and the losses can be severe, and permanent. It can mean losing both the life you once lived and the person you once were.In Kent and Medway, there are 4,307 ABI admissions per year; made up of 1,820 traumatic brain Injuries, along with 1,555 people who have had a stroke or TIA, 571 with a brain tumour, 100 with meningitis, and 193 with remaining ABIs. Around 85% of these are single admissions; the remaining 15% represents people who return for multiple admissions.
Our Vision
To foster a comprehensive understanding of acquired brain injury (ABI) and to deliver essential information, support, and services to individuals affected by ABI, as well as their families and caregivers. We accomplish this through the following initiatives:
- Raising Awareness: Enhancing public and professional awareness and understanding of acquired brain injury.
- Prevention Efforts: Engaging in activities aimed at reducing the incidence of brain injury.
- Providing Support: Offering information and support to individuals with brain injuries and their families.
- Promoting Collaboration: Advocating for and coordinating multi-disciplinary approaches to injury prevention, screening, acute care, assessment, rehabilitation, and community reintegration, ensuring clear accountability.
- Facilitating Community Reintegration: Assisting individuals with brain injuries in returning to community life and encouraging their participation in social activities and community engagement.
Our Aims
"To enable bold, ambitious, and sustainable plans to drive a better experience for brain injury families in Kent - promoting choice, independence, respect, and inclusion - thus improving life after brain injury"