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Newsletter  July 08

In our last newsletter, Oliver and I were thrilled to report that we had planning approval to go ahead with the redevelopment of the Headway House site and the building of our new resource centre.  As is often the way with major developments, after months and years of frustratingly slow progress, suddenly it all happens quickly.  The builders, Croudace, are now on site and we have moved to temporary premises at 7 Faraday Road, Guildford.  Our new short-term home is very nice and very conveniently located and you are all welcome to drop in.  There is lots more news inside on this topic, but I must record here our huge gratitude to one of our Trustees, Ian Cooper, for his leadership of this substantial and complex project.

I also mentioned in the last newsletter that we had a new President, Dr. Grace Dowling, a former general medical practitioner and previously a High Sheriff of Surrey.  Grace is already proving to be a strong advocate for Headway Surrey and we are looking forward to welcoming her to our AGM on Thursday 9 October at 7.00 pm – please put this date in your diaries as we would like to see all of you there.

The Council of Management had an excellent strategy session a couple of months ago, expertly facilitated by one of our Trustees, Sophie Graham-Godet.  The outcome of the session will inform our business plans now and in the future.  As is usual in such sessions, we reviewed our strengths and our weaknesses, opportunities and threats.  Strengths include our wonderful staff team, and our ‘added value’ services such as the web site, helpline, drop in sessions and carers group.  On the opportunities and threats side, we are preparing for the introduction of personal budgets for and direct payments by our clients and look forward to the greater direct involvement of our members in service planning and delivery.

There are a lot of really exciting developments at Headway Surrey at the moment, as you will read in this newsletter, including the piloting of the role of Brain Injury Co-ordinator and the recruitment of a Befriending Co-ordinator, thanks to partnership funding from Guildford and Waverley.  Both of those roles will significantly extend our services for our members and their carers, and our profile in health and social care.

But so much remains to be done to improve services for people with this ‘hidden disability’.  Head injuries are the biggest cause of acquired disability in the UK.  It would be marvellous if we had the money to provide even more intensive support for people, and if the NHS and local authority could afford a much wider range of longer-term rehabilitation.  We will keep fighting for improved services.

Enjoy the rest of the summer!

 Jenny Griffiths, Chair

A MOVING STORY

Moving house, it is said, is the third most traumatic event you face in life.  Don't believe it.  Moving a Headway House beats the lot when it comes to raising anxiety levels.

Delays in obtaining planning permission for the new development in North Road meant that we had actually been preparing for the move to temporary accommodation for over a year.  While the move itself was so successful that it felt almost seamless, the planning and preparation had to be meticulous in order to minimise the effects on our members and that took an immense amount of work, mainly on the part of Clare and Jacqui.

Finding suitable temporary premises was also a major challenge.  We needed somewhere that was affordable, big enough to accommodate all of our activities, had wheelchair access and disabled facilities, and was close to good bus and train links which were easily accessible to our members.

After scouring west Surrey for nearly a year, and looking at well over 100 offices, I found a modern office building a 7 Faraday Road which ticked all of our boxes.

So, While our registered address, for official business, is still at Headway House, North Road, Guildford, we will be operating from 7 Faraday Road, Guildford for the next year or so.

The next problem was to make sure the members know how to get to us.  One of the things you learn fairly quickly about working with brain injury, is that individuals can be really anxious about change and need a really clear understanding of what is happening.  Over a two week period, prior to the move, we had to organise trips to the new offices, to make sure members really understood bus routes  and transport arrangements.  It speaks volumes that, after we had moved, we didn't lose a single member.  On occasion one or two members of staff found themselves pointing towards the old building (including yours truly) but every single member got it right.

As for the old building - it is no more.  The bulldozers moved onto the site at the beginning of this month and, within two weeks, our old home had simply disappeared.  The builders are now preparing the ground works - drains, building foundations etc, and hopefully, by next Summer 2009, we will be going through the removals operation in reverse to make the journey back to a brand new, custom built, resource centre and base for Headway Surrey.

Oliver McGeachy,  Chief Executive

The wall of memories

A demolition party was held on May 20^th to mark our last day at Headway House in North Road. The day consisted of fun and games and absolutely no work! On arrival members were asked to take as many “bricks” as they wanted and write down their memories of their time in Headway House. These were then stuck up on one wall. Throughout the morning members continued to add to the wall and to take time to read the memories. By lunchtime we had “a wall of memories”.

Some memories were very witty, whilst others were very moving. They included:

At lunchtime members were encouraged to take their memories and attach them to balloons. Following a photo session and a few words from Oliver the balloons were released, taking the memories with them. This seemed a fitting end to a building that had served us well for 12 years.

To view the photographs of our demolition party see our website (“What’s going on" page).

Jacqui Potter,  Services Co-ordinator

Fundraising on Par at West Surrey GOLF CLUB

As the Captain of West Surrey Golf Club, one of my responsibilities is to select a charity which will be the focus of our fund raising activities at the Club during my year in the role. The emphasis is usually to make this choice from the many local charities we have in and around Godalming and Guildford, so that members of the Club can relate better to it and hopefully have a greater willingness to provide their support.

Our captaincy term runs from October, so last summer I had a short list from which to pick just one charity. In my mind were two main objectives, the first was that if at all possible it would be new to the Club and secondly I would prefer one with which I had a personal association, however remote. It seemed to me that Headway Surrey met all of these parameters: local, new and also I found out that I had a good friend whose son used its services. So, I visited the Headway offices in North Road and met the wonderful staff who confirmed my choice by dint of their dedication and enthusiasm, which came across so readily even on my first meeting.

In fact there are three people I know who use or have used the help provided by Headway, which in itself is surprising to me. James Lee is 30, the same age as my own son, and a couple of years ago he was on holiday in Spain when he stepped into the road and was hit by a passing car. His injuries were life threatening but fortunately he survived. However, his head injuries damaged his brain and he is a customer of Headway to this day, as it tries to help and support him in his struggle to live a reasonable life.

Subsequently, I have learned that two other people linked to West Surrey G.C. have used Headway as well, including our head green-keeper's son, Simon Kirkham. He had a similar accident to James, in that he was hit by a car but this time while doing his paper round several years ago. This family continues to use the services of Headway and speak very highly of their experience. The other link was Christophe, who ran our Half Way Hut. He was badly beaten up several years ago from which he suffered permanent brain damage and his wife sought help and guidance from Headway.

Although we do try to raise funds throughout the year our focus is always the annual Pro-Am and 2008 was no different. The event was held on a warm day on 4^th June and thanks to the efforts of my Pro-Am Committee, ably directed by our Professional Alister Tawse, I was delighted to hand over a cheque for £5,000 to Headway's Oliver McGrath. We are hopeful that more funds raised on the day will be forthcoming and this depends on finalising the Accounts.

Additional golfing and social occasions do raise money during the year, notably over the Christmas and New Year festive period, but again the total amount will not be known until mid-October. For example, each year we have a Captain's day and my intention is to promote further money raising on my day in July. Oliver rightly requested the flow of money in large tranches rather than piecemeal and I very much hope that a further £2,000 is possible.

It has been a privilege to meet the staff and work with Oliver to assist in some way to help towards the equipment needs following the redevelopment of the premises in North Road. My best wishes to everyone associated with Headway in this development, at this important stage in its invaluable service to the community.

Ron Smith, Captain West Surrey Golf Club

Marathon Update

We would like to say a big thank you to the six runners who ran the Flora London Marathon back in April.  Donations received so far stand at an amazing £7,820.92.   We really can’t thank the runners enough for their time commitment and hard work fundraising.   I have received good feed back from the runners they all enjoyed their day, despite the weather!

Two of our runners Tamsyn and Natalie (Charles Russell Solicitors, Guildford) came into meet some of our members, along with their medals.  See our website  (Fundraising page) for the photo.

If you are inspired or know anyone who would be interested in supporting us by running the London Marathon 2009 please get them to contact me.  We only have limited spaces.

More sporting Aid

We would like to say thank you to Ron Smith Captain of West Surrey Golf Club, for his support, enthusiasm and his article in the newsletter.  As of going to press we have received a brilliant £6,000.00 from the members and supporters at West Surrey GC , raised at their Pro-Am tournament in June.

A level start

Simon Friend, Local singer, songwriter and multi instrumentalist (guitar, harmonica, mandolin, banjo and manocello) of the British contemporary rock band The Levellers, performed an acoustic set at Guilfest  and dedicated it to Headway Surrey.  As if this is not great enough, Simon has kindly donated £100.00.

Support of local Business

We would like to say a big thank you to Mr Chris Davies, his friends and colleagues at Allied Irish Bank.  We have received a fantastic £4,273.00 in donations for Headway Surrey over the last couple of months.

 Local support is really appreciated by Headway Surrey.  These donations and others that we receive, help us to continue our services for people affected by head injury.

Clare Balchin , PA to Chief Executive

Brain Injury Co-ordinator appointed

The move is not the only thing that has been happening at Headway!   There are a number of important changes on the staffing front:

Lee Bennett our Community Support Co-ordinator has been appointed as our Acquired Brain Injury (ABI) Co-ordinator.  This role is one that Headway Surrey has been keen to start for a long-time.  Lee will be fostering links with Rehab Centres, Hospitals and G.P’S to promote a care pathway.  Asked what he hoped to achieved over the next 12 months Lee commented,  “There is a challenge in Surrey to establish & maintain good working relationships with health and social care professionals as well as developing the principals and practise of service provision to individuals with brain injury.

“We know this post has the potential to make a real difference for individuals in the early stages of recovery from brain injury.  There was a real need for this post to be established and it says much for Headway Surrey’s commitment that the organisation has decided to fund the post.”

We are pleased to say that Josie Taylor will be joining us as a full time member of staff in August. Josie has been a volunteer with Headway Surrey since March.   Her role will be split into two areas.  She will work alongside Jacqui and Viv supporting clients in the centre, on Tuesdays & Thursdays, and take over running the weekly Friday Drop In Service (10.30 – 3.00) from Andrea.  

Thanks to funding from Guildford and Waverley Voluntary Grants Panels Josie will be setting up a Befriending Service to support people with head injuries.  This sets a real challenge for our newcomer.  She is being given the opportunity of launching a completely new service which could have a very real effect on the quality of life of individuals who have suffered brain injury, along with their families and carers. 

In light of Lee’s new role and Josie’s appointment, Andrea Heels our support worker will be working with our community clients on a full time basis. 

CARERS SUPPORT MEETING DATES

Headway Surrey's support meetings are held upon the second Wednesday of each month at 7.30pm currently at 7 Faraday Road (off Woodbridge Road), Guildford, GU1 1EA

The next meeting dates will be:  13^th August / 10^th September / 15^th October

All enquiries should be directed to Lee Bennett who can be reached on

01483 454433 or email at leebennett@headwaysurrey.org