Headway, East London - review 2009

At the end of November myself, Marcus and Anna took some time off work and visited Headway East London.

For those that need a brief re-cap, Headway (East London) is basically a day centre for people who have had brain injuries. Attendees visit the centre for 1 to 2 days each week. They take part in different activities from art classes to music therapy, but above all the centre allows them social interaction which most would otherwise lack; living alone without the confidence to meet new people or couped up with their carers.

I was struck by the fact that these people had once lived normal lives; they had families, jobs, children. How difficult and frustrating to be suddenly unable to do those everyday things, to talk properly and to relate with other people.

We spoke with Phillipa (the volunteer coordinator) about OPS donations and where they were being channelled. Currently 80% of their funding comes from local authorities and this pays for the boring bits like admin and building running costs, staff costs etc. What that does not cover are the 'extras': things like music therapy, trips out to town and events such as canoeing on the canal. These 'extras', often things which can seem relatively insignificant to us, are extremely valuable for the attendees. They are a key ingredient to the service which Headway (EL) provides, allowing attendees to gain confidence, interact with people from outside the centre but also just providing them with memorable and fun experiences which they would otherwise not get elsewhere. Last summer some of our money went toward a barbeque at the centre, something we would all take for granted, but was clearly very memorable for many of the attendees who told me all about it!

Next Year
We have a good relationship and lots of contact with Headway: Phillipa and the staff are always very happy to have any of us come to the centre and have a look around; Marcus Fairhurst volunteered at the centre in 2006; and as you will have heard from the newsletters, David Croshaw, one of our friends in London, currently volunteers once a week providing music therapy for some of the attendees. It is these pesonal relationships which are fundamental not just with the charities we support but also to the successful running of the group as a whole.

We have also found a great channel for our money - one where we can tangibly see the results of our money and one the has a big impact on the attendees.

Based on this we are proposing that if OPS continues to support Headway (EL) through 2009, our money would continue to go toward these events, with the usual quaterly feedback through David.

Lastly I just wanted to encourage anyone who can to go and visit. Emails and websites are good for some things but they are no subsitite to going and meeting people: it is easy to give our money away without really thinking, and to skim over the newsletters without making any connection to each of the causes. Visiting the centre last year, seeing and meeting people first hand helped me to understand why the need exists and why exactly is there. It was so encouraging I would recommend it to anyone who can. Email myself (john[at]onepercentscheme.org or davidcroshaw[at]yahoo.co.uk if you fancy it.

John Arnold - Jan 09