Headway UK - the brain injury association

“The new life is different but it is good.” 💙 32 years after sustaining a traumatic brain injury, Leonard Lewis shares an honest and hopeful account of recovery, resilience and reinvention in his memoir, Back to Go. Find a quiet moment this Sunday and download your free copy 📖 buff.ly/kRtr6QM

We have a new website! This video takes you on a tour of what's on offer, or head over to headway.org.uk to have a look for yourself! #website #launch

The nights are drawing in, the temperature is dropping, the leaves are falling from the trees; that can only mean one thing… Christmas is coming! Shop for Headway Christmas Cards in-store or online here: buff.ly/yCxYDRP #Christmas #ChristmasCards

We have something very exciting in the pipeline… Check out our website on the 4th of November to see what that could be 👀 #comingsoon #teaser #newwebsite

We have another World Record Holder! Over the weekend, Tanya attempted a Zumba class like no other. After a gruelling 24 hours and 14 minutes, she was a World Record Holder – that’s a lot of Zumba! Headway is a cause particularly close to Tanya, as in 2016 her mother sadly passed away due to a ruptured brain aneurysm. “My mum was an incredible person, and even in the middle of our family’s devastation, she went on to help others. She was on the organ donor register and, through her own tragedy, saved the lives of four people. “This year marks 10 years since we lost her, and I wanted to do something to mark that anniversary that felt truly meaningful — something difficult, something memorable and something completely outside my comfort zone.” Link here if you want to donate: buff.ly/Ewdp2LR Tanya would like to thank her fellow participants; they are… Sarah Mason Rebecca Newton Milena Slater Darren Sharp Kerri Champion Kirsty Handyside Sherry Ursell Sam Hall Helen Rochelle Anna Drobisz Ela Tomolik Lea Funnell Thanks, Tanya! #charity #fundraiser #zumba

For people living with the long-term effects of brain injury, the idea of dating can be a daunting and challenging prospect. Common concerns include the difficulties of dating when you have memory issues, low confidence and communication problems, while family members and carers often have concerns about their loved ones’ safety. However, there is hope. Click the link below to learn how one brain injury survivor overcame these challenges and re-entered the dating world. buff.ly/28Nmnvn #datingadvice #abi #tbi

This Halloween… be green. Recent data shows that the UK generates around 2000 tonnes of plastic waste every year during Halloween, with costumes, accessories, and decorations as the main culprits. You can help reduce this waste by shopping pre-loved! We took a trip to Headway UK’s shop in Poynton to see their fabulous Halloween display and check out some spooky items on offer… Do your bit by buying pre-loved this Halloween. #halloween #preloved #GreenHalloween

Bryce was working in Greece driving engineering trains when disaster struck. While travelling at over 50km per hour, his train suffered a complete brake failure, leaving him and his team of three forced to jump from the moving train. “It seems it wasn't quite like the James Bond movies; when I eventually jumped, I collided with a concrete post and incurred hefty injuries, including four bleeds to the brain, a fractured skull, seven fractures on my spine, a cracked pelvis and a broken arm.” Click here to read his remarkable story: buff.ly/vrYJlyQ

Many people know that it is our muscles that are responsible for our body moving, but the brain also plays a vital part in this by coordinating the movement of muscles. When the brain gets injured, the ability to coordinate muscles may be affected, which can affect different types of movement. This is called ataxia. Ataxia affects movement, balance and co-ordination, which all rely on muscular control. Ataxia can therefore cause issues with: •Walking •Vision •Speech •Swallowing •Continence (bladder and bowel functions) •Using one’s hands for activities such as eating, dressing or writing Vision relies on movement of muscles around the eyes. Even when we think our eyes are still, they are constantly moving back and forth to process the world around us. A brain injury can affect the control of these muscular movements, which can cause a range of visual problems that contribute to ataxia. Find out more here: buff.ly/vR7WPO4 #ataxia #abi #tbi

🏆 Last Chance to secure your table at the Headway Annual Awards! 🏆 Join us for an inspiring evening celebrating achievements across the brain injury community while networking with fellow supporters. With only a limited number of tables remaining, now is your final opportunity to be part of this special event. 📅 Thursday 10 December 2026 📍 Royal Lancaster Hotel, London 🎟️ Limited tables remaining To book your table or find out more, please contact [email protected] #awards #headway

Today is World Menopause Day, the number of people surviving brain injury is increasing over time, and that means that more women with brain injury are living to the age when menopause will typically begin. Here are five facts about menopause and how the experience of it can be impacted by a history of brain injury. #WorldMenopauseDay #TBI

One week later, looking back on the 2026 Headway UK conference. Over 400 professionals, from healthcare, social care, legal services, academia and the voluntary sector, all with a common purpose: to support people affected by brain injury to live meaningful, fulfilling lives. The theme of this year’s conference was ‘Reintegration in action’ – we focused on how we can better support families affected by brain injury to reintegrate into society, and how to better support them once discharged from hospital. If you attended, thank you! We hope you had a wonderful day. If not, these pictures will have to do! What should the theme of next year’s conference be? Leave a comment and let us know! #HeadwayConference #Reintegration

🎉Celebrating our Yorkshire, Humber and North Derbyshire Members Activity Day🎉 With attendees travelling from branches including Bradford, Leeds, York, Doncaster, Harrogate, Scunthorpe, Grimsby and North Derbyshire, the day provided a wonderful opportunity to connect with others who understand the challenges of living with brain injury. The strongest message from the day was the sense of belonging it created. Attendees described the event as “brilliant,” “fantastic,” “inclusive,” and “inspiring”. Many spoke about the importance of meeting new people, reconnecting with friends and feeling understood by others with shared experiences. A huge thank you to @SwitalskisSolicitors for their generous sponsorship of the Activity Day. Without their support, this special event would not have been possible. #headway #activityday #inspiring

There are various systems in the body that are responsible for maintaining balance, and the brain plays a crucial role in this skill. This means issues with balance and dizziness can often develop after brain injury. However, these four simple tips can help. Do you have any other ways to improve your balance? Leave a comment and let us know! #balance #tbi #abi

Steve Wiseman had a unique understanding of brain injury prior to being diagnosed with a brain tumour five years ago. Steve used to work in brain injury rehabilitation, helping to organise various therapies for survivors, as well as support individuals in returning to work. And then in 2021, he found himself in his client’s shoes, experiencing debilitating effects of brain injury, like fatigue, communication struggles, and memory and balance issues. Read his remarkable story here: buff.ly/K3QXDRG #braintumour #abi

Navigating a brain injury is hard enough as it is, add in the complexities of legal representation and it can feel like you’re walking through a minefield. That’s where the Headway Brain Injury Solicitors Directory comes in. Containing most of the UK's leading firms in the field of brain injury, it's an essential place to find high quality legal advice. Ensure your firm is part of this important resource - email [email protected]

After a brain injury, it is vital that survivors and families get access to the right information to help them navigating life after brain injury. What topics do you think are most helpful to receive information on after brain injury? Leave a comment and let us know! Your opinions will help inform future Headway publications. #tbi #headway #youropinions

Today is World Mental Health Day. Following a brain injury, some survivors may begin to experience problems or changes with their mental health. Conditions may develop as the person starts to understand the full impact of their injury, or pre-existing symptoms may be exacerbated as a result. Try these 3 coping strategies to manage your mental health. If you need to speak to someone, our Helpline Team are here to offer support: Tel: 0808 800 2244 | Email: [email protected] The team are available 9am - 5pm, Monday to Friday, but you can leave an answer phone message anytime. #mentalhealth #braininjury

Emma had a thriving media career, rising through the ranks from local TV all the way to international productions, eventually landing a job as director of hit international TV programme – ‘How Do They Do It?’ At the peak of her career, the unthinkable happened. Whilst on holiday in Vietnam, Emma contracted an infection. Initially brushing this off as a minor illness, it was only when Emma arrived back in the UK, she realised the true impact of what had happened. You can read Emma’s full story here: buff.ly/FnIRoQ6 #TBI #Encephalitis