Headway meetings

[B_S_A]

I've never been, I suppose people recommend them highly though?

[Tortie14]

I can't get to a meeting but several do speak highly of their meetings Nutkin, and Matt come to mind, and Richey. Are you thinking of going?

[nevernevergiveup]

Yes I'd recommend going even just for one meeting. It's an opportunity not only to chat about any concerns or issues you have, but also to ensure you either get whatever support you need and, more importantly, want!

[Hidden]

sadly i don't have a local group

[StrawberryCream]

The nearest group to me was much too far to travel ......but in the next couple of months a once weekly group is starting in a venue quite nearby to me........so given the positive mentions of Headway groups/centres on here I am looking forward to giving it a go. I don't go out anywhere so think it will be good to try and break my isolation by meeting with people who understand.

[abico]

I've never been. They sound good but not always accessible. Would it be better for someone to come to you or maybe skype?

[Molly15]

Hi Ben.

And a Happy and Healthy New Year to you.

We moved down to Leicestershire from East Yorkshire just over a year ago, from where we attended a Headway meeting two or three times. My husband now attends a Headway Day Centre locally, which has made a world of difference to his progress and to his social life (and also to my sanity, having a few hours a week to do things on my own!!)

I cant praise Headway enough, I know we are very lucky to have moved to an area that has a Day Centre, it would be amazing if everyone had access to one. The staff are fantastic and the clients are of all ages and disabilities. My husband has learnt new skills he never knew he had, painting, drawing, etc and has made some great friends.

If you have access to any of Headway's meetings or a Day Centre, I would highly recommend them.

Best wishes, Molly

[Hidden]

I'm hoping to go to my local one, but waiting for the funding to come through from SS been a couple of months wait so far I think!

[Matt2584]

I'm surprised you don't go to the Headway meetings, Ben. The main centre is in Portsmouth at the Mountbatten Centre but they do have a drop-centre/outreach on a Friday in Gosport, Bridgemary. I volunteer there. It is wuite fun. We do quizzes there as well andI sometimes bring my Matt-bat puzzles with me. It's my first time back today after Christmas. It would be good to see you there sometime, if you can make it :).

[gj124]

I go. I was lucky a local group opened a satellite group, in my town just as I was ready to look for one. We hold meetings every other week and they run by a headway member. So if we have any questions we know we will see him.

[miracleman]

Used to attend when I was still at work in the fire service on light duties after my TBI. Part of my rehab. It was a continuation of me first attending while still in hospital! Had attended a couple of meetings! Was very withdrawn when I first attended, and balance a bit awry*; 5.5 months post accident. Meeting people who have experienced Brain Injury, chatting, joining in with simple word games, dominoes, Sudoku, etc, really brought me out of my self, and started to get me back to something resembling my old self. Stopped going a couple of years post accident as I needed to spend more time at work. Never regained operational capability, did keep me on for 3.5 years before I was retired on Ill-Health; could have finished me on capability, so think I was lucky. My mum still volunteers, she had become involved through me. I still visit and chat to the staff and users, and have done a number of things to raise sponsorship for Headway South Staffs.

staffordshirenewsletter.co....

Great place for people who have suffered aquired BI to attend I think! Give it a go, attend a couple of times, meeting people who have experienced some of what you have, can be really enlightening, advice/tips, from people with personal experience, who have local experience, can really be enlightening.

Best of luck! Neal

PS * Asked my very clever 13 yr old son, & Teacher Wife how to spell, 'Awry', my son said what's it mean? I said 'crooked', 'amiss', my wife was not sure of the spelling, I said "I think it's "A W R Y", then looked it up in Dictionary!

And that for a bloke who 5yrs 6 mths ago had his mother trying to help him read the simplest words, never mind write them! TONIGHT I am WELL CHUFFED!

[EllJay67]

my son has been going for 2 years now and has made so much progress ..... before he started going he spent 12 years with no support from anyone but me .... he became depressed and withdrawn and started self harming and wanting to die ...... the staff at his centre are fantastic! .... worth their weight in gold ..... nothing is to much trouble for him or me ..... (yes, they also support me too! ..... any worries I have about my son, I know I can talk to them and they will pull out all stops to sort it all out) ...... I would highly recommend that if given a chance to go, take it ..... it makes an absolute world of difference