“We See You”: Headway Kent Stands Against Isolation During ABI Week 2026

This week marks Action for Brain Injury (ABI) Week 2026, led by Headway UK, with this year’s powerful theme focusing on isolation and loneliness after brain injury. Under the national tagline “We See You”, charities and support organisations across the country are raising awareness of the emotional and social challenges faced by survivors and their families every day.

But here at Headway Kent, “We See You” means far more than simply recognising those affected by brain injury — it means creating a place where survivors truly feel seen, heard, supported, and accepted.

Recent research from Headway UK highlights the devastating social impact brain injury can have on both survivors and carers:

• Only 31% of brain injury survivors and 38% of carers maintain the same social circles they had before injury.
• 83% of survivors and 69% of carers report feeling isolated from friends after brain injury.
• Over a third of survivors (36%) and carers (35%) feel isolated from their own families.
• Almost 90% of survivors (87%) and carers (85%) experience loneliness after brain injury despite never feeling lonely before.
• More than half of survivors (56%) and carers (51%) say they are no longer socially active following brain injury.

These figures paint a stark picture of the hidden reality many people face after an acquired brain injury — a reality that often extends far beyond the physical effects of injury itself.

At Headway Kent, tackling that isolation is at the heart of everything we do.

Through peer support groups, activities, rehabilitation opportunities, and safe social spaces, we provide survivors across Kent with the opportunity to reconnect — not just with others, but with themselves. Our services are built around understanding, compassion, and the knowledge that every brain injury journey is different.

For many survivors, simply being in a room where they do not have to explain themselves can be life-changing.

Headway Kent prides itself on offering a safe space where survivors can meet, share experiences, rebuild confidence, and simply be themselves without fear of judgement. Friendships are formed, confidence grows, and people who once felt invisible begin to feel part of a community again.

While ABI Week is an important opportunity to raise awareness nationally, it is also a chance to celebrate the incredible resilience of survivors and the positive impact local support services can have within communities across Kent.

This week, we want every survivor, carer, and family member affected by brain injury to know one thing:

We see you. We support you. And you are not alone.