We’re turning 40!

Get out the balloons and put up the bunting – Headway is turning 40!

For some people, turning 40 is an unwelcome milestone – often sparking mid-life crises that involve asking ourselves questions such as ‘how am I 40?!!’, and ‘what have I done with my life?!!’

But there’ll be none of that at Headway! Instead, we’ll be spending the year celebrating all that we’ve achieved over the past four decades while redoubling our efforts to support people living with the effects of brain injury today.

Our story began in 1979 with the incredible vision and inspirational efforts of a small group of people who believed a life worth saving should be a life worth living (you can read a brief history of Headway here). One meeting, five people, and a charity was born.

Over the years, the charity has have grown substantially. Today, our network of groups and branches extends across England from Cornwall to Carlisle, in Wales from Cardiff to Conwy, from the Scottish borders to the Highlands, and throughout Northern Ireland.

But none of this would have been possible without you, our amazing supporters.

With your help, we provide more services for survivors, families and carers than ever before. Services such as our Emergency Fund, which provides grants to help families cope with the sudden practical implications of brain injury, and the Brain Injury Identity Card.

With your help, we help thousands of people every year via frontline services such as our nurse-led freephone helpline or our award-winning free-to-access publications.

With your help, we are able to launch new local Headways across the UK, while supporting our network of groups and branches as they provide vital social support and rehabilitation programmes to survivors, families and carers in their communities.

With your help, we continue to increase understanding and awareness of brain injury, while challenging those in authority to ensure better services and support are provided for survivors, families and carers.

With your help, we continue to launch new campaigns, ranging from concussion awareness awareness through to Right First Time, which is driving changes to the disability benefits assessment system.