Welcome Ben – Our New Volunteer at the Ashford Community Hub

We’re delighted to welcome Ben, our newest volunteer at the Ashford Community Hub, based at the beautiful Harper’s Café in Victoria Park, Ashford.

Ben brings warmth, humour, and genuine care to every session. As you can see in the photo, he’s already proving to be a fantastic addition to the team – though we’re still not sure what he said that had Harrison laughing quite so much! “Having had experience using charitable services, I wanted to give something back to the community and find a fulfilling role,” says Ben. And he’s doing just that.

Ben is currently studying to become a counsellor and will begin the final part of his studies with the Level 4 Diploma in Therapeutic Counselling at the Kent Wellbeing Hub this September. His lived experience, empathy, and listening skills are already making a meaningful difference to those around him.

At Headway Kent, we understand that an Acquired Brain Injury (ABI) is a traumatic and life-changing event – not just for the individual, but for their family too. Our work is rooted in person-centred support, and we offer specialist ABI counselling, one-to-one social rehabilitation, and peer support groups across Kent.

It’s also important to acknowledge that more men than women sustain a brain injury. Men are approximately 1.6 times more likely than women to sustain a traumatic brain injury and some studies show that up to 70% of people with ABI are male, depending on the population and the type of injury. That’s why we’re so pleased that Ben has chosen to volunteer, especially within an unintentionally all-female staff team. His presence helps offer representation and support that truly reflects the people we serve.

Ben’s commitment to mental health, brain injury rehabilitation, and inclusive community work is a perfect fit for Headway Kent. Who knows – one day, we may be welcoming him back as a fully qualified counsellor working with our clients and families. 

Key UK Statistics on ABI (Acquired Brain Injury)

• ABI includes traumatic brain injury (TBI) (e.g., from accidents or assaults) and non-traumatic causes (e.g., stroke, brain tumours, encephalitis, anoxia, etc.)

• That’s over 350,000 hospital admissions per year where ABI is recorded as a diagnosis.

• Every 90 seconds, someone in the UK is admitted to hospital with an acquired brain injury.
  (Source: UKABIF / Headway UK, latest available figures from NHS Digital 2022/23)

• Men are approximately 1.6 times more likely than women to sustain a traumatic brain injury.

• Some studies show that up to 70% of people with ABI are male, depending on the population and the type of injury. For example, in younger adults (especially under 45), the male-to-female ratio for TBI is typically 2:1.

Why Volunteer for Headway Kent?

Volunteering with Headway Kent is more than just giving your time – it’s about making a real difference to people living with the effects of brain injury. Whether you're supporting someone to relearn a skill, offering a listening ear, or helping to reduce social isolation, your time can change lives.

You’ll gain:

• Valuable experience in health and social care, counselling, and community rehabilitation

• Opportunities for training, skills development, and CV building

• The reward of knowing you’re helping people rebuild their lives after trauma

At Headway Kent, we pride ourselves on being inclusive, supportive, and neurodiverse-friendly. Whether you're looking to gain professional experience or just want to give something back, we’d love to hear from you.

Want to volunteer or support our work?
📩 Email us: info@headwaykent.org or call 01227 864118.