Liz Bamber

Speaking at the event, Chairman, Louise Sheffield said it was a huge step forward for the charity being based with Heartbeat. Jill Rogerson, CEO of Heartbeat said the two charities share a lot of common goals and are both highly patient focused. Graham Alexander wished us well for the future and looked forward to another five years as patron and Ben price thanked Headway for assisting him with his role in CoronationStreet, playing the part of someone with a brain injury.

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Headway Preston and Chorley – New Headway Office Opening

The region has the highest rate of head injury admissions of any English region and the second highest rate of admissions for all forms of brain injury.

Using hospital admissions statistics, the charity has compiled the first dataset on ABI-related hospital admissions in the UK. These include non-superficial head injuries, strokes, brain tumours, encephalitis, and a variety of additional conditions.

This is the first time a picture of incidence rates for all ABI in the UK has been published, with the figures highlighting the concerning number of people in the region sustaining injuries to the brain each year. See press release.

Headway Preston & Chorley has moved office to the Heartbeat Cardiac Centre at Preston North End. The move is welcomed as it provides larger premises to enable more one to one appointments and easy access for clients. Liz Bamber Development Officer said, we are delighted and look forward to working alongside a larger charity which will only add value to our service.

The new address is:

Headway Preston & Chorley, Heartbeat Centre, Preston North End, Sir Tom Finney Way, Preston PR1 6PA

“We are pleased to see the football authorities have addressed the serious issue of concussion,” said Peter McCabe, Chief Executive of Headway. “The measures announced today are a significant step forward in the protection of footballers at all levels and therefore are warmly welcomed.

“The more we know about head and brain injury, the better we understand the risks of continuing to play competitive sport following a concussion. The guidelines at all levels, from FIFA to the FA and Premier League, have to date been insufficient and ineffective, as demonstrated by numerous high-profile examples.

Liz Bamber, Headway Development Officer said, ‘Preston has seen an increase in cyclists since the creation of the Guild Wheel which is used by professional cyclists and families alike. Being a keen cyclist, I use the wheel regularly and I am staggered by the number of people still not wearing helmets. It is hoped that the UK will follow Jersey’s example very soon’.

This is the first law of its kind to be passed in any jurisdiction in the British Isles and has been labelled by Headway – the brain injury association as ‘a momentous landmark in child protection’. The law has been equally welcomed by other charities, including the Child Brain Injury Trust and the Bicycle Helmet Initiative Trust.
The legislation was introduced following a vote in the States Assembly of Jersey on 17 July 2014.

Ben’s relationship with Headway began last year after he found out his character Nick was to be involved in a car crash that would result in him sustaining a brain injury. Keen to play the role as accurately as possible, Ben contacted us to learn more about how brain injury can affect individuals and their families.“I am delighted to have been asked to be a patron of the Preston and Chorley group of Headway,” said Ben. “They have provided me with an invaluable insight into the effects of brain injuries.“Their work forms an essential service to support brain injured individuals, their families and carers.”

Louise Sheffield, Chair of Headway Preston & Chorley, said: “Ben’s support means the world to all our volunteers, staff and of course the members who we support.“Having spent some time with our members, getting to know them and learning more about how brain injury affects them on a daily basis, it is wonderful that Ben has agreed to be become our patron.“We are all thrilled as with Ben’s support we can hopefully make more people in the region aware of the effects of brain injury and the fact that Headway is here to help.”Ben’s support of Headway has already resulted in numerous national television, newspaper and magazine mentions for the charity. Back in November, the actor visited the group and afterwards stated his day was ‘nothing short of inspiring’.

Ben will join Headway Preston & Chorley’s first patron, Graham Alexander, Fleetwood Manager who has been with Headway for the past 3 years.