We are alone!??

[Nafnaf87]

Good morning all

On Tuesday morning I went to our reconvened local Headway group meeting.

Our meetings are the third Tuesday of every month so it was reconvened from the second Tuesday of the month.

Why did it change to the second Tuesday of the month? Because our local Headway co-ordinator wanted to attend and give a presentation, this meeting also doubling as our AGM. She could not do our normal day.

What happened? The meeting was a failure, members did not attend hence reconvened.

So this Tuesday a few more members did come per normal arrangements. One, Paul, who had his accident at work a couple of years before I had mine 26 years ago, was telling us about doing an anxiety course. He had gone through the course and as they came to the end and final assessment he fell apart. But he got himself together and passed the assessment and is so pleased he now has a qualification he can use to help others.

Paul added every step of the way through the 28 years he has been on his own, the only help and support has come through the group, most of that in quite recent times echoing my own experience. He was at pains to point out no help whatsoever has come from Headway UK again echoing my own experience.

It is so good to have this place provided by Headway UK where we can communicate and not be alone but Headway really do need to be more proactive in our community and not only interested in the big picture glory stuff.

Best wishes

Michael

[Teazymaid]

I also went to my local headway group maybe a couple of years ago ans the staff were great ans this is going to sound horrible but I was too well as the others who were at the group has far more difficulty than I do . The old me wanted to go into supporting /careing for others and the new me couldn’t do that 😢 I wanted like what I get on here .. I have had very little to do with ringing headways and I think I rang them once and that’s why I joined this group ( no memory of that ) it was the only thing written in my brief discharge note that has helped me .. I would love to meet up with others in the same place as me and wish Headways was I wider know group as I worked with a guy who has brain injuries pre my accident and has never heard of them . I’m sure there will be people local to me who have no idea about concussion or TBI ans other head injuries that would appreciate a coffee with like minded people as we do in here just no coffee Sue 😊

[Writeronstack]

Its all a bit variable isn't it. People want recognition - and money to continue doing what they do. I guess that is the role of all headquarters everywhere - the big picture glory stuff.

2 years after my head injury, I have had a first appointment 2 weeks ago, with my local Headway group - which is an hour's drive away. I had to screw up all my courage to get in the car and drive there by myself. The Satnav is okay, but old. They are in a new building, which is shown as green field. Its near a hospital and a kind nurse showed me the way to it, looking it up on Google, and failing, as she went. First thing I was told is that the driving postcode for the building is not the same as its normal postal code !! No wonder I couldn't find it.

Anyway, assessment over, I was told that I would benefit from some cognitive work, and also a course on fatigue management. Could I sign a release form for my medical records? I am still waiting.

But I was walked around the centre, and there were many people who clearly benefited from being there - they had had a mosaic making course - dexterity for stroke victims I guess - and absolutely everyone was really happy to have participated. So they do good, I know.

Yes, local stories are what matters, couldn't agree more.

[Ideogram]

My local Headway seems to have been non-existent and I'm in a major city - at least they never replied to my enquiry and national Headway told me they're a tiny outfit. But they meet outside the centre so there's no way I can get there anyway (surely other people struggle with not being able to drive?). I found myself almost wishing I could crash the local dementia group. It's a shame they seem to have a negligible presence in some regions as I really could do with some community with people who get it, but I assume it's all volunteers and I wouldn't have the capacity to volunteer myself to be fair.

[Nafnaf87]

our local Headway group have recently engaged with local dementia group, a representative came to talk to us recently so I would give them a whirl, you may well get some support.

Best wishes

Michael