News

£19,560,00 of National Lottery funding

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Headway Central Lancashire celebrates after receiving £19,560,00 of National Lottery funding to help local adults with acquired brain injury and major trauma.

Headway Central Lancashire, is today celebrating after being awarded £19,560 in National Lottery funding to support its work with adults living with acquired brain injury and after major trauma. The charity, based in Preston, will use the money to run weekly support sessions.

Headway Central Lancashire has been running since 2010 and is managed by 7 staff, 24 volunteers and a board of 11 Trustees. It was co-founded by Liz Bamber after she realised, through her own family experience, that the community was struggling to provide support to local adults and their families.

The charity now runs weekly sessions attended by 60 local adults, who take part in activities to promote independence, improve confidence and coping strategies and make friendships with others going through similar difficulties.  

The project called Headinto Your Community will focus on two of The National Lottery Community Fund’s community-led funding missions:
• to support communities to come together
• support communities to enable people to live healthier lives.

The new funding from The National Lottery Community Fund, which distributes money raised by National Lottery players for good causes and is the largest community funder in the UK, will safeguard the sessions called Headinto Your Community for another 12 months.

Liz Bamber says: “We’re delighted that The National Lottery Community Fund has recognised our work in this way. Now, thanks to National Lottery players we will be able to continue our vital work in the community and provide a safe space for adults recovering from life-changing conditions to meet and create their own supportive circles of friends and peers. We thank every single player who are making a real difference to charities like ours”

The National Lottery Community Fund recently launched its strategy, ‘It starts with community’, which will underpin its efforts to distribute at least £4 billion of National Lottery funding by 2030. 

Mental Health Awareness Week 2025

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Its mental health awareness week 12th – 18 May and we are highlighting the needs of adults after acquiring a brain injury and a major trauma injury.

Living with a sudden change to your health is difficult to deal with and thats why our sessions in the community and our support in hospital is vital to help people manage the emotional impact.

Here you can also download 2 factsheets from Headway UK which provide good advice about managing mental health after brain injury.

Mental health and brain injuryDownload
mental-health-and-brain-injury-for-carers-publicationDownload

Action for Brain Injury Week 2025

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This year’s campaign takes place between the 19th – 25th May and is called On a good day.

On a good day will tell of the fluctuating and unpredictable nature of brain injury, highlighting the gap between capabilities on a good day versus a bad day.

Fatigue, headaches, mood changes, capacity and cognition problems have a huge impact on a survivor’s day-to-day activities, their ability to work and their relationships with friends, family and others.

Liz Bamber, Manager of Headway in Central Lancashire said:

“On a good day will get people thinking about brain injury. However, more importantly, we hope people will change their opinions, attitudes and behaviours towards those who might be having an all-too-common bad day. 

At Headway we help people navigate the benefits system to ensure they have an income after their brain injury prevents them from working and doing everyday activities most of us take for granted. This highlights the daily activities most people have problems with such as cooking, planning, dealing with finances, remembering to take medication, washing and getting around.

As brain injury jury is so hidden it’s difficult to explain how brain injury can have a devastating effect because you can’t see it and because the brain itself has been damaged, the person is changed for life. 

If you would like to donate to help us continue our work supporting people after brain injury you can give through Just Giving How to Donate Using Just Giving

Sapphire Ball raises £8930!

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We are absolutely delighted to announce our Headway Central Lancashire charity Sapphire Ball 2025 has raised a wonderful £8930.00.

Thanks to headline sponsors JMW Solicitors and Serious Injury Law, activity sponsors KW Therapy, Express Solicitors and Glenn Slater Contractors and everyone who donated prizes, every penny will be used towards funding our frontline services.

Liz Bamber, Manager and founder member said, “we are very grateful to the businesses and individuals who have helped us this year. It was a great evening for a great cause supporting adults after brain injury and major trauma and their families”.

View the gallery here.

Tony’s Close Shave

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My name is Tony and 12 years ago on 3rd April I suffered my first brain haemorrhage. Since then, I have had 2 other haemorrhage’s and 5 strokes.

My brain injury has caused cognitive difficulties, mobility problems and depression. I have attended Headway in different parts of the country and currently live in Preston so I am supported by Headway Central Lancashire.

‘Headway means a lot to me as they are always there for me, when there is nobody else, they are always there’.

I want to give something back and therefore on the 12th anniversary of my brain injury, I will be shaving my head and beard for charity.

I would very much appreciate your support no matter how much you give I know it will be put to very good use supporting other people like me.

Thanks for taking the time to visit my JustGiving page Tony. https://www.justgiving.com/page/antony-gansler-3?utm_medium=FR&utm_source=CL

Headway Central Lancashire receives over £32,000 donation from RSM in Preston

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Headway Central Lancashire has been awarded £32,283.01 by RSM in Preston to continue its voluntary support service for adults who have suffered a brain injury and major trauma injury, their families, friends, and carers.

RSM Preston adopted Headway Central Lancashire as its annual charity partner in October 2023 and since then the firm has held fundraising events and donated items including Easter eggs and essential toiletries to the charity throughout the year.

The money raised will help us to continue providing daily advice and assistance including community sessions, welfare benefits support, legal advice, practical support regarding housing and finance, therapeutic workshops, a helpline, and an emergency fund for essential costs arising from sudden life changing situations.

Liz Bamber, Manager at Headway Central Lancashire, has led the charity since it began after her eldest son sustained a severe traumatic brain injury through a road traffic collision. She realised from her own family’s experience that the community was struggling to provide support to local families when they needed it the most and created a bespoke service for patients and their families as soon as they need it, and for as long as they need support.

Liz said: “We are delighted that RSM chose us, they have been absolutely amazing, with every colleague at RSM Preston taking part and donating. The incredible amount of over £32,000  raised was so much more than we expected, and we are very grateful to everyone. This funding will make a huge difference and is vital because it helps families to deal with sudden changes to their lives.”

Karen Musgrave at RSM, said: We are thrilled to support Headway as a local charity and believe our fundraising – which is helping Headway to help others – to be a fitting tribute to Karen’s memory.

An award to honour and remember RSM colleague Karen Christie has been set up by Headway Central Lancashire with the first recipient being chosen in December 2024.

Yorkshire Building Society Supports Talking Group

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Headway Central Lancashire has received a donation from Yorkshire Building Society Charitable Foundation after being nominated by colleagues from the Preston branch.

Headway Central Lancashire received the £1400 donation from Yorkshire Building Society Charitable Foundation to help it fund a Talking Group to explore mental health issues including developing self-worth and confidence, overcoming fear and dealing with anger issues .

Nicola Dickinson of Yorkshire Building Society in Preston said: “We are proud to be able to support Headway in our community in Preston with a donation from Yorkshire Building Society Charitable Foundation. The work that they are doing to support people living with a brain injury is providing support and services to its members.”

Charity Family Fundraiser raises £507

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Neighbours on Regent Court Fulwood held a charity family fundraiser in aid of Headway Central Lancashire on Saturday 14th September 2024 and raised £507.00!

Organisers Jen and Sue held a fun packed afternoon with tombola, raffle prizes, bingo and refreshments.

Thanks to everyone for their support.

Summer afternoon tea

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The Summer Afternoon Tea and Bake Off 2024 has been kindly sponsored by:

Express Solicitors, JMW, Serios Injury Law, KW Therapy and Barratt Homes. Without their sponsorship we would not be able to pack in as much fun, prizes and good food!!