Headway Suffolk

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Exciting Plans for New Rehabilitation Hub and Housing Announced

Headway Suffolk is today announcing ambitious and exciting plans to build a new rehabilitation hub and housing for clients – with the centre to be named after renowned physicist Professor Stephen Hawking.

The Stephen Hawking Neuro Centre will be built on the edge of Ipswich, and will include facilities for rehabilitation and support for clients with brain injuries and other neurological conditions.

The new centre will also include 24 homes where Headway Suffolk clients will have the opportunity to live as independently as they are able.

Dr. Jane Hawking, the first wife of Professor Hawking, is Headway Suffolk’s Patron, and the world-famous scientists’s family have given their blessing for the new centre to be given his name. Professor Hawking, who lived with motor neurone disease for more than 50 years, died in March.

Dr. Jane Hawking said: “I am sure Stephen would be as delighted as I am that the new hub for Headway Suffolk is to be named the Stephen Hawking building. I am confident that this carefully planned complex will bring much comfort and relief to victims of brain injury and neurological conditions, and to their families.”

Helen Fairweather, Chief Executive of Headway Suffolk, explained why the new centre was essential. “Life after brain injury is difficult for the person and their family. The change of personality and loss of function means many partnerships end.

“It is usually Headway clients who have to move out of the family home and become homeless, or end up in inappropriate provision such as mental health or older people’s services. This leads to depression and prevents rehab. Headway has for some time been looking at how to solve this problem, and now we have a very exciting solution.”

The new centre will be built in the Ravenswood area of Ipswich, and it has been welcomed by Ipswich’s MP Sandy Martin who said “Headway Suffolk have provided a fabulous service for people suffering for an acquired brain injury in their base on Ransomes Euro Park, but it is now time for a bigger better hub with accommodation for those who most need it. I am really proud that we have this provision planned here in Ipswich.”

County councillor Bill Quinton, who represents the Ravenswood area, is also enthusiastically backing the scheme. He said: “I have supported Headway for many years and they are a dynamic, forward-looking organisation who think only of those who need their support. Their plans for modern, purpose-built residential and support buildings are a prime example of their vision for the future and I for one am delighted to be able to support their plans. The work that Headway do is inspirational and I wish them well for the future.”

The centre will replace Headway Suffolk’s current hub at Epsilon House on Ransomes Euro Park. The charity will sell this to help support the new project.

On October 3, there will be an opportunity for local residents to view the plans, and to speak to staff and clients from Headway Suffolk.

The event takes place from 6.30pm at Ravenswood Community and Children’s Centre. Everyone is welcome.

Get involved!

There is a great opportunity for individuals, families, schools and local businesses to get involved in supporting this hugely exciting and prestigious project.

Here’s how…

Headway Suffolk is inviting individuals, groups  and schools to help build the Stephen Hawking Neuro Centre by buying a brick – or lots of bricks – they only cost 50p each!

Also, local businesses and other organisations have an opportunity for one of the rooms at the Stephen Hawking Neuro Centre to be named after them. For a donation of £66,000, your organisation can forever be an integral part of the centre.

All individuals, groups and companies who help the fund-raising effort will have the option of being recognised on Headway Suffolk’s website and fund-raising board.

Headway Suffolk offers care, support and rehabilitation to people with a brain injury o4 neurological condition. It employs trained brain injury rehab assistants, speech and language therapists, physiotherapists, nurses and counsellors.

The majority of the work is carried out at their rehab hub based on Ransomes Euro Park in Ipswich. This base has now been outgrown due to an increase in clients using the service. Headway Suffolk also has a home care and community care team which was recently rated as good by the Care Quality Commission.

For further information, or to offer support, e-mail [email protected].

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