Fund Headway Dorset

Headway Dorset is an independent voluntary organisation affiliated to Headway UK the Brain Injury Association. Headway Dorset receives some funding from Bournemouth and Poole and Dorset Primary Care Trusts, regional Dorset Social Services and private donations and sponsorships.

The service was set up in 1993 and now provides a comprehensive, needs led service, including Occupational Therapy, Psychiatric and Counselling Services, Physiotherapy, Community Rehabilitation throughout Dorset. Headway promotes wider understanding of brain injury and provides advice and support to people with brain injuries, their families and carers.

A brain injury happens in a second - the effects last a lifetime. The number of brain injury survivors in Dorset grows every year. 60 people each year will require round the clock care for the rest of their lives. The majority of head injury survivors are young people aged 16-28 with a normal life expectancy. The burden of care often falls upon the family with 1 in 300 families affected by brain injury.

Headway Dorset will have to close its day centre fron the end of July 2008 because Poole Social Services (who own the present premises) are rebuilding and the local Primary Care Trusts are not willing to give funding for new premises. I believe they have a DUTY to fund this essential service otherwise they are discriminating against brain injured survivors.

Please sign our petition to show your support for our cause; hopefully you will never have to find out first-hand just how crucial this centre is.