Headway Suffolk

Ipswich Hub 01473 712225

Bury Hub 01284 702535

Headway Suffolk rated Outstanding by CQC

Headway Suffolk, a local charity that supports people with acquired brain injury and neurological conditions, is very proud to announce that at its recent Care Quality Commission (CQC) inspection it was rated as outstanding.

For caring and well-led it was rated as outstanding, while for safe, effective and responsive it was rated good.

Headway Suffolk CEO Helen Fairweather said: “We are extremely proud of being rated as outstanding, especially after a pandemic. We have worked so hard. Being acknowledged for the work that our caring staff deliver to our very vulnerable clients is fantastic.

“The inspector took the time to look at the whole charity and not just regulated to service. She realised the impact that our minibus drivers, Brainy Dogs scheme and  free shop, as well as our amazing hub, has on our clients.

“We are indebted to our fantastic staff team, who on a routine basis go the extra mile and don’t even realise that they’re doing it as it is the norm.

“My carers were fantastic, really patient and kind”

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Ipswich Round Table Autumn Ball

We are very thankful to Ipswich Round Table for supporting Headway Suffolk with their Autumn Ball next month.

The Autumn Ball takes place on Saturday 22 October at The Hangar – Milsoms Kesgrave Hall from 6.30pm.

The black tie event has the following order:

06:30 PM | Drinks Reception
07:00 PM | Sit down (Heads & Tails first)
07:30 PM | Food served
12:00 AM | Bar closes / Band finishes
12:15 AM | Carriages

Tickets cost £75 each. Tables of 12, price includes 4 bottles of wine per table.

Book your tickets here: tickets.roundtable.co.uk/?p=4851

Mourning the passing of Queen Elizabeth II

Headway Suffolk shares the nation’s sadness at the passing of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.

As a mark of respect, our hubs and community support services will be closed on 19 September.

[ image: Royal Family ]

Dementia Social Support Groups in September

Headway Suffolk runs three monthly social support groups for adults living with dementia.

The groups provide stimulating and engaging activities, such as indoor games, cognitive exercises, discussions and social interaction. Fish and chips lunch and refreshments are also provided,

The person with dementia must be supported by a carer.

We have unfortunately closed the Martlesham group but we are pleased to have added a second group in Ipswich.

The groups meet in September as follows:

  • Ipswich (St Augustine’s Church Hall) – Friday 9th
  • Ipswich (St Augustine’s Church Hall) – Thursday 22nd
  • Castle Hill (United Reformed Church) – Friday 23rd

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New Understanding Brain Injury programme

Headway Suffolk will be running a new Understanding Brain Injury Programme, starting from 27 September and running for six Tuesday mornings.

The aim of the programme is to help users understand the effects of their brain injury or neurological condition and how it affects their daily routines.

The programme takes place at our Bury St Edmunds hub and costs £60 for new persons. It is free to existing Headway Suffolk clients.

For full details, go to our courses page.

Read our Summer Newsletter

Our Summer Newsletter is here for August.

Inside you’ll find updates on ABI stats, Alec’s story, summer trips, U12 heading ban, minibuses for sale, dementia groups and fundraising.

Read the newsletter here:
www.headwaysuffolk.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Newsletter-Summer-2022.pdf

Sign up to receive future newsletters and updates from Headway Suffolk:
https://t.co/QEgwa43Ya7

Dawn Astle welcomes U12s heading ban

Dawn Astle has welcomed the Football Association’s announcement that they are to trial banning players heading a football in matches at under 12 level.

It follows research suggesting former footballers are more likely to die from brain disease than other people.

Dawn has campaigned tirelessly for improved player welfare for 20 years after her father, former England striker Jeff Astle, died with a degenerative brain disease caused by repeated blows to the head.

Dawn was a keynote speaker at our Neuro Conference last year, speaking passionately about her experiences.

She told TalkSport: “We know what’s happening to professionals but at some point, the disease CTE is forming in the brain and we know our children’s brains are still developing and are very fragile.

“I think this is a really important step forward to protecting our children from both concussion and CTE.

“It’s something we should have done years ago. We’ve needed to do something to prevent CTE, which is the neurodegenerative disease my dad died of and has been found in footballers’ brains and is entirely preventable.

“The important thing is they’ve done it. But now it’s important to educate people on why this is important, why they need to comply with this and getting concussion safety right in every club, in every in town, in every county up and down the country.”

The FA has been granted approval from the International Football Association Board to introduce the trial in England from the start of the 2022-23 season.

It will be co-ordinated with the county FA network, leagues, clubs and schools throughout the country.

“Should the trial be a success, the aim is to then remove deliberate heading from all football matches at U12 level and below from the 2023-24 season,” an FA statement said.

As well as Jeff, members of the 1966 England World Cup squad, including Jack Charlton and Nobby Stiles, have died after suffering from brain functioning diseases believed to be linked closely to heading footballs.

Research into football and head trauma, led by consultant neuropathologist Dr Willie Stewart, has shown professional footballers are three and a half times more likely to die from dementia than people of the same age range in the general population.

Abbey Gardens & St Edmundsbury Cathedral visit

Clients made the most of the summer weather last week by spending a day in Bury St Edmunds.

They enjoyed a stroll around the Abbey Gardens, taking in the beauty, tranquility and history of the award-winning gardens.

This was followed by a guided tour of the stunning St Edmundsbury Cathedral.

To complete the day, everyone sat in the gardens to enjoy a picnic.

See gallery of photos:

Dementia social support groups in July

Headway Suffolk runs monthly social support groups for those living with dementia.

The groups provide stimulating and engaging activities, such as indoor games, cognitive exercises, discussions and social interaction. Fish and chips lunch and refreshments are also provided,

The person with dementia must be supported by a carer.

The groups meet in July as follows:

  • Ipswich (St Augustine’s Church Hall) – Friday 8th
  • Castle Hill (United Reformed Church) – Friday 22nd
  • Martlesham (St Michael’s Church Centre) – Thursday 28th

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New Vacancy: Fundraiser for Headway Suffolk & Brainy Dogs

Headway Suffolk is seeking a dynamic and creative individual for its new post as Fundraiser for Headway Suffolk and its unique Brainy Dogs project.

The successful candidate must be able to organise events and make trust fund applications for the charity, which supports adults living with brain injury, stroke and neurological conditions in Suffolk.

The salary for the new part-time position is £12,500 per annum. Hours are to suit but may include a requirement for some evening and weekend working.

For an informal discussion, more details of the post and to submit a CV, contact CEO Helen Fairweather on:

Telephone 01473 712225 or email [email protected].