News and Events
Kay Duffy, our Iron Lady - She did it!
A few months ago we told you about Kay Duffy, the intrepid Iron Lady who was supporting us at Headway Northampton in memory of her Mum, Margaret.
But it's the incredible lengths of her dedication, in a very literal sense, that has humbled and honoured us as Kay launched herself into long distance endurance racing to help raise money for our cause.
In July, Kay took part in 'Ride 100', a 100 mile bike ride from Surrey to London (in terrible wind and rain conditions) which she completed in 6hrs 50mins. And incredibly later that month she took part in 'Iron Man - Austria', a gruelling triathlon of Swimming, Cycling and Running which took 15hr 54mins!!
Plus there's an upcoming event she has also pledged herself to: a 2 mile river swim in the 'Swim Serpentine' race on the 22nd September.
What she has done is amazing, let alone the money she has raised on our behalf. And to show your appreciation of these incredble feats you can still contribute to Kays' My Donate page.
You will be supporting us with the donation, and thank you for that, but more it's a huge thank you to Kay for the time, effort and incredible dedication she has applied to help us at Headway Northampton. Let her know how grateful we are.
Summer Open Days!
Tuesday 21st August AND Thursday 23rd August - 11am to 3pm
Once again for our 'Summer Open Day' one is not enough, we're hosting two open days!
Both are in the same week, on Tuesday 21st August and then again on Thursday 23rd August but both feature the same down-to-earth motif. We're going back to nature with an Urban Wildlife theme!
Entry is FREE and we even have our own in-house band - Rufus Rat and the Amazing Animatronic Band, literally built to amaze and entertain you.
There's also lots of original urban animal art to see and personal creature comforts like cream teas and ice creams to enjoy. So please, it is a fund raising event as well, get your pack together and support us in all the furry fun.
To see a flyer advertising this years twin Open Days, click the image below.
New job opportunities at Headway Northampton
Headway Northampton is looking for 2 bright new employees.
The positions available are for a Administrator and a Financial Administrator.
The general duties for an Administrator are in relation to our clients, visitors and day-to-day paperwork. They include...
- Answering all incoming calls and directing appropriately.
- Administration duties such as letter writing, copying, updating records, calibrating and filing information.
- Preparation of documents for meetings including AGM.
- Maintain unit diary and contact lists.
- Organisation and maintenance of charity related paperwork including standards and procedures.
- Maintaining records in accordance with GDPR
The duties for the role of Financial Administrator include...
- To work closely with the Manager, book keeper and accountant.
- Inform manager of all income and outgoings using spreadsheets and day books.
- Responsibility for invoicing. Handling and inputting invoices through inhouse electronic systems. Ensuring invoices are sent on time and in accordance with policies and procedures.
- Outstanding attention to detail with an ability to update and maintain spreadsheets for accounting purposes.
- Support in the preparation of budgets, end of year accounts and trustees annual accounts.
- Professionally answer relevant enquiries and chase up money owed when required.
For a more comprehensive breakdown of duties, hours of work, renumeration and how to apply for either position please refer to these .pdfs jobsheets...
Administrator.pdf and Financial Administrator.pdf
*This post was made on 7th Sept 2018. Closing date for applications is when sufficient applications have been received.
A New Donation
We are very happy to report of a large donation recently.
The Sugar and Spice Club of Duston Northampton has been going for 50 years and has raised thousands of pounds for local charities over the years. And we are happy to say that in April, we were very grateful for a £500 donation to Headway Northampton!
Margot was a guest speaker at their Annual General Meeting at Duston Community Centre and received the cheque from chairperson Mary Meredith.
Thank you so much ladies.
Meet Kay - The Headway 'Iron Lady'
We are grateful to anybody raising funds for Headway Northampton but some of our supporters warrant special mention.
Definitely in that category is Kay Duffy. Unfortunately Kay lost her Mum, Margaret, to a brain haemorrhage and while Margaret never directly used our services, Kay is keenly aware of how we might have helped her and the aid we provide to people who live on after a haemorrhage.
And now, in memory of her Mum, Kay has thrown herself into a major change of her own lifestyle. Despite never being especially "sporty", Kay decided to run this year's London Marathon! Something she completed in a brilliant time of 4 hours, 41 mins. And not just that, Kay has committed to 3 other endurance challenges this year. A 100 mile bike ride event called Ride 100 London, an event called Swim Serpentine (2 mile swim down the Serpentine) AND a full 'Iron Man' event in Austria (That's a 2.4 mile swim, a 112 mile bike ride followed by a full 26.2 mile marathon on the same day.) Incredible.
Such commitment obviously deserves highlighting and some tangible support with donations too. And to this end, Kay has set up her own My Donate page. If you can visit and pledge some money to help reach her target amount of £1,000 that would be fantastic.
Kay, thank you so much for your fantastic support and endeavour and good luck with all your events.
Headway Northampton in new fitness Initiative
Friends of Fitness is an independent charity which supports individuals to improve their health and wellbeing through exercising and we are very excited about our partnership with them.
Headway Northampton would like to thank Friends of Fitness and Fitness4less for their support, and the opportunity to work with them for the benefit of our attending clients and their families and carers. For more information regarding this new scheme ask at Headway Northampton. It is for attending clients only.
Break-in at Headway
As many of you may have heard, Headway Northampton was broken into over the night of Monday 29th January. This obviously caused a great deal of distress to staff and our service users but the greater damage was the theft of about £1000 in donations. Funds crucial to our daily running and money we thought it would be very hard to replace.
But, we are really happy to say, the support we have received since the break-in has been amazing. With our story spread on local radio and in the Chronicle & Echo, with over 6500 hits on Facebook and with messages from clients, family members, ex-staff and professionals the response has been overwhelming. And so have the donations.
From small to large amounts, we have now actually raised over £1,600 to more than replace the stolen money! It has shown all of us that the local community really does value us and our work. Because with lots of good causes out there, we don’t have the means to show fluffy pictures to pull on the heartstrings. The harsh reality of brain injury is that you can’t succinctly portray the devastating effect it has on those who suffer from it, and their families who have to live with it. It’s also something you think is never going to happen to you.
Just like a burglary in fact and just like the humbling generosity we have experienced this last week. From all the staff and service users at Headway Northampton, thank you so much.
Link to the Chronicle and Echo article about the burglary
New Trustees Wanted
Headway Northampton is a charity with 35 years of experience supporting adults with brain injury in the county. We are a specialist resource facility providing activities for 70 adults each week at our centre. The organisation is in a sound financial footing, and is well-established locally and regionally. To support its development in the years ahead, we are looking for new trustees to join our Board.
The board is responsible for the governance of the organisation, ensuring it continues to have sound finances and works within its charitable objectives. By joining the board, you can help staff and service users ensure the organisation is well-run, and use your skills and passion to give back to your community in a rewarding and stimulating way. Trustees meet around 6 times a year, for 2 hours in the early evening. We also welcome you to get involved in the charity's work, such as fundraising activities, events and day to day support.
At this time, we are looking for 2 or 3 trustees, and welcome applications from people of all backgrounds, but we are hoping that at least one of the new trustees will have a finance background or experience of running a small to medium sized business. To apply, please send a short CV to Debbie Fitzgerald, debbie@headwaynorthampton.org.uk, along with a brief explanation of your interest and the expertise you might offer.
You can read more about Headway Northampton by reading our 2016 annual accounts and more about being a charity trustee at www.gov.uk/guidance/charity-trustee-whats-involved
Summer Barbeque - Thank You
It was the 30th August this year that we hosted our annual Summer BBQ. And although it must be said that the weather could have been kinder for our event, in true Headway Northampton style we still had a fantastic day.
Because our BBQ is such an important day for everybody here. It’s the opportunity for all of our service users and their families to enjoy the unit together, everyone mingles and it’s our chance to show off the great arts and crafts that are made here.
But we couldn't run these events without the great support from all of our staff and some special helpers. Contributors like Denis Knight who again bought his yummy burgers and sausages and helped us with the cooking. We even had a second grill going too so huge thanks to Thomas from the Smoke Pit for coming down to support us as well.
And of course a huge thank you to eveybody who did brave the weather and who helped us raise a brilliant £150.00 from our BBQ.
As team we really enjoyed the day and we hope you all did as well.
Next Drop-In Session Date
Our next drop will be held on Monday 27th November 2017 between 10am and 12pm.
This month we are looking at Wellbeing and we have an aromatherapist coming in to the unit. These drop in sessions are less formal than our normal rehabilitation placements, they are meant to help those who may have slipped through the net for assistance and those who generally manage their effects of their brain injury but will benefit from some further specialist support and information.
This Drop in service is for those who have no formal support with their acquired brain injury, this is a 12 month pilot scheme funded by, and in coalition with, Northampton County Council, Northamptonshire Community Foundation and First for Wellbeing.
Summer Open Days!
Tuesday 11th July AND Thursday 13th July - 1pm to 4.30pm
For our annual Summer Open Day this year we're going big, one day isn't enough, we're having two open days!
Both are in the same week, one is Tuesday 11th July and then again on Thursday 13th July but both feature the same far out theme, we're going into Space!
It's with a purpose though as we're transporting all our vistors to a world where the effects of brain injury are actually more obvious but in addition we have our own Tardis and a Dalek showing up too!
So please, we invite everybody to join in the fun with us, get Lost in Space and visit our "Strange New World". And don't worry, we promise the terrain is totally safe and inhabited by cream teas and refreshments.
To see a flyer advertising our twin Open Days this year click here for the full .pdf
New Monthly Drop In Service - Starting Monday 27th Feb
Exciting news, we are proud to announce a new trial drop in service at Headwway Northampton.*
Meant as a service for those who have no formal support with their acquired brain injury, this is a 12 month pilot scheme funded by, and in coalition with, Northampton County Counil, Northamptonshire Community Foundation and First for Wellbeing.
Less formal than our normal rehabilitation placements, these sessions are meant to help those who may have slipped through the net for assistance and those who generally manage their effects of their brain injury but will benefit from some further specialist support and information.
To be held on a Monday morning from 10am and 12am, once a month, our first session is on Monday the 27th February, followed by the next meeting on 27th March.
For later dates, and for more details on the services it will provide, click here for the full .pdf leaflet about this new initative. There is also a flyer advertising the first meeting with us.
*Please note, this new scheme is only intended for those new to our service, not members who already attend Headway Northampton.
Make your voice heard!
2nd Independent Review into PIP Assessment – Call for Evidence
The second independent review into Personal Independence Payment (PIP) Assessments is calling for evidence from claimants, their family members, and organisations supporting them.
Whilst the call for evidence for the PIP Assessment review process might not be as accessible as we would like, it is an opportunity to give a voice to brain injured people and make the government aware of the devastating impact welfare benefit reforms are having on brain injury claimants. Evidence from claimants and their families can be provided either by the gov.uk online portal or by email/post (see details below).
The deadline for responses is Friday 16th September 2016.
Queries should be emailed to pip.independentreview@dwp.gsi.gov.uk
About the Pip Assessment Review
This latest review aims to get a clear picture of how the benefit is working and make recommendations to the government on how it can be improved. It is being conducted by former civil servant Paul Gray who will look in particular at the way further evidence, such as letters from doctors and specialists, is used to assess a claim. The review will also examine the way data is shared between health and social care bodies to support claims, and take a broader view of the assessment and claimant experience.
At this stage in the process, Headway Northampton has identified four ways people who have an acquired or traumatic brain injury and their families can take part:
1. Complete the online form on the gov.uk website: https://survey.dwp.gov.uk
The online form does not allow you to keep a copy of your response, it goes directly to the Independent Review team.
2. Complete the .pdf document of the main PIP review document found using this link.
You can cut and paste the questions for individuals which start on page 11 of the form, there are 20 in all, and then email them directly to the Individual Review team at: pip.independentreview@dwp.gsi.gov.uk
This is more time consuming but you can keep a copy of your responses for yourself, and if you wish, you could share your answers with Headway Northampton, although we are not in a position to help you complete the form.
3. You can simply tell the independent review team of your experiences of the PIP assessment as a letter and email directly to: pip.independentreview@dwp.gsi.gov.uk
4. You can print off the document (as detailed at section 2 above) and fill in your answers by hand, or write about your experiences in your own words and send by post to:
PIP Independent Review Team, Department for Work and Pensions, Floor 4, Caxton House, Tothill Street, London, SW1H 9NA.
Remember, the deadline is Friday 16th September. Please do whatever you can to have your say and make your voice count!
Headway Annual General Meeting - Monday 5th September
Time again for Headway Northampton's Annual General Meeting.
It is being held on Monday 5th September at 5.30pm with doors opening at 5pm. We anticipate the meeting should last approximately 1 hour.
The Agenda is as follows:-
- Chairmans welcome and apologies.
- Minutes of the 2015 AGM to be agreed and matters arising. (Copy by request prior to meeting or availlable at the meeting)
- Chairmans Report.
- Presentation of the 2015-2016 Accounts and matters arising.
- The Unit Manager's Report.
- Retirements/re-election of trustees and committee members.
- Any other business.
An important part of the AGM is the election/re-election of Headway Trustees, a .pdf letter of explaination of this process is attached here.
No new trustees are standing for election but each of the 6 trustees asking to be re-elected have written a statement of their experience and qualifications to remain in their role.
Their statements can be found on a single .pdf document that you can find here.
A .pdf voting paper for you to cast your vote, in favour or against, can be downloaded here. Please bring it along to the meeting.
So we invite service users, family members and any interested party to attend the 2016 AGM but to confirm your presence please contact Maja on 01604 591045 between 9am and 4pm Monday to Thursday. Or email maja@headwaynorthampton.org.uk
Concussion Awareness Campaign
Sport forms an integral part of our community and plays an important role in keeping us fit and healthy. But even when safety regulations are followed accidents can happen and a particular danger are head injuries and concussions which are not always obvious. At Headway Northampton we want people to be informed of these risks, particularly for those at grassroots level where ambulances and doctors will not be on standby should something go wrong.
We are asking all local sports clubs, schools and colleges to sign up to the Headway Concussion Aware campaign with a resounding ‘If in doubt, sit it out!’ approach to head injuries.
Something that has been endorsed by Consultant Neuropathologist and leading sports concussion expert Dr. Willie Stewart who said. “There is no doubting the benefits of participating in sport. There is also no doubt that head injuries in sport are best managed by adopting an ‘If in doubt, sit it out!’ policy. The world of sport has made progress in recent years to address the issue of concussion, with much of the focus being on elite-level athletes. However, more needs to be done to incite a cultural change at grassroots level to ensure amateur and junior players are as well protected as professional sportspeople from the incorrect management of brain injury.”
“Headway’s Concussion Aware campaign is a most welcome initiative which should encourage safe engagement in sport, while at the same time protecting people by promoting a no-risk approach to head injury.”
So we encourage everybody who loves playing sport to demonstrate they are aware of the dangers of concussion by pledging support at www.concussionaware.org.uk.
You can also help to raise the awareness of this important campaign on social media. Use the #ConcussionAware hashtag and you can share the ‘If in doubt, sit it out!’ campaign film, which can be found at https://goo.gl/63tVRR.
In addition you may learn more about concussion in sport on a Headway factsheet by clicking this link
Run the Northampton Half Marathon for us on 4th September
After the outstanding success of the past three years of the event, in which intrepid and determined runners have raised a tremendous amount of sponsorship for Headway Northampton, we’d love for more willing volunteers to run for our noble cause.
What we need is people to run our on behalf and raise £100 or more in sponsorship, something more than achievable due to the generosity of our donors. We'll even pay your £28 entrance fee for the event and give you a free goodie bag, with soft drinks, sweets and everything else you need running a half marathon. Plus we'll provide a free Headway running vest so that you can run in style and show your support.
The race itself starts from the Guildhall at 9.30, from there it's a circle of the town centre before heading out for some picturesque countryside until the finish in the shadow of Delapre Abbey.
So, do you fancy the challenge of running the Northampton Half Marathon for us on Sunday 4th September. All essential details can be found on this pamphlet here, and you can register for the event here
If you are participating in the half marathon for us please contact Maja on 01604 591045 or maja@headwaynorthampton.org.uk, to receive your free goodie bag. You can also see our own poster for the event here
Headway Northampton rewarded in the Lloyds Bank Community Fund
Christmas came a bit earlier for us at Headway Northampton this year. That's when we found out that we had come top in the 2014 public vote for the Lloyds Bank Community Fund vote for Northampton North.
While the award scheme ran across the whole of Britain and nearly 1.5 million votes where made overall, for the Northampton North area a total of 6862 votes were cast.
And of those Headway Northampton came ahead of many other local causes earning 31.1% of the vote! A result that meant we were awarded the top level of donation - a fantastic £3,000!
Obviously we thank Lloyds Bank for their Community Fund initiative and for the wonderful amount they have given us but we really have to thank everybody who voted for us. It was an exclusively mobile phone text voting system and by our calculation that means potentially over 2,100 people took the time and effort to send in their vote.
So in addition to the much valued grant, we are also boosted by the fact that what we do is so widely recognised and valued by the community and our members.
Thank you one and all.
Autumn/Winter 2014 Newsletter
Read our Autumn/Winter 2014 newsletter! With a report of our annual 'Open Day BBQ', including lots of pictures, and news of the terrific fund raising activities of Headway supporters and local companies we think you'll enjoy it.
Download the pdf by clicking this link Headway Autumn/Winter Newsletter 2104
Spring/Summer 2014 Newsletter
Our new Spring/Summer newsletter is out! With lots of news, updates and a moving personal account of how acquired brain injury changed one mans life we think you'll find it an interesting read. Download the pdf by clicking this link Headway Spring/Summer Newsletter 2104
Extraordinary General Meeting
Tuesday 10th June 2014
This Extraordinary General Meeting was called to discuss the future of Headway Northampton and to seek approval to become a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO). Explaining that the need to become a CIO is mainly for administrative reasons, it was stressed that there will no obvious changes to the services provided by Headway Northampton. All in attendance then voted and the proposal to become a CIO passed unanimously. If you would like to see the detailed minutes of the meeting please click this link.
We have also produced a fresh Constitution outlining the full terms of our new status as a CIO. Be warned however, it is by necessity a long document (22 pages) but if you wish to read it, please click this link.
Action for Brain Injury Week - 12th to 18th May 2014
Ticking time bomb: The false economy of cuts to brain injury support services.
In Spring 2014 Headway – the brain injury association, conducted two surveys to examine the impact government reforms of the welfare benefits system and the cuts to local authority budgets are having on the lives of people affected by brain injury.
Are funding cuts having an impact on the lives of people affected by brain injury?
Are local funding cuts having an impact on the ability of Headway groups and branches to support those affected by brain injury?
Collated from the various Headway groups and branches the surveys were designed to inform Headways 2014 Action for Brain Injury week campaign. Entitled "Don't Cut Me Out." the campaign sought to raise awareness of the impact of welfare reforms and spending cuts on brain injured people and
Headway support services.
Once collated a press release was sent out to local papers, radio and other media providing the findings of the report. It gave clear evidence that cuts to local authority budgets and
welfare benefits reform are having a detrimental effect on the well being of brain injury survivors and their carers, physically and psychologically.
And in a full page article in the Independent on Sunday (May 11th 2014) the paper also publicized "the deeply concerning" findings of the report. -
If you wish to read the article from The Independent click this link and a full copy of the report can be downloaded from the "Action for Brain Injury Week 2014" page on the Headway UK website.
At Headway Northampton we have noticed the effect these changes are having on our clients and their carers. The changes in the welfare benefits system have caused tremendous stress and worry, particularly with the work capability assessments, and that the assessments do not recognise "hidden injury", looking at the physical rather than psychological and emotional problems.
Happily, all of the clients that we have helped to appeal against an original rejection for Employment Support Allowance have at least won those appeal cases and been placed into the support group for the ESA benefit. However this is always a very long process and the
pressure put onto the brain injured person and their carers is immense.
In fact, the report found that 85.3% felt the implementation of welfare reform is not fair on people with brain injury or their carers. Its findings also showed that 87% of
Headway group and branch representatives were concerned about the physical and emotional well being of their clients. We ourselves see this on a regular basis at Headway Northampton, with the clients, their families and carers that come to us. While changes are afoot because ATOS will lose the contract for the Work Capability assessments from February 2015, there is clearly still a long way to go.
Debbie Fitzgerald - Assistant Manager Headway Northampton
Winter Newsletter 2013
Our latest newsletter is here. You can read about the main events at Headway Northampton and what we have been doing to raise funds by clicking this link Winter Newsletter
Well-Being Event - 21st November 2013
The Well-Being Event held in November was a great success and we had 2 VIP's in attendence, The Mayor and Lady Mayoress of Northampton. Spending the evening with us and taking time to look around the unit, which looked fantastic decorated for our Christmas events,
they visited the many stalls that had booked for the evening, stalls that were very varied.
From a lady Psychic giving readings, someone providing Swedish massage, another lady giving Indian head massage and tables for beauty products, jewellery, Christmas gifts, hand-made crafts and some very popular decorated cupcakes.
The Mayor and Lady Mayoress even bought some of their Christmas gifts whilst they were here. It was actually their first visit to Headway Northampton and they viewed with interest all the work completed by our service users as well as the
WNDC award winning garden, festooned as it is at the moment with Christmas trees and sparkling lights all ready for Santa (and Elvis) at the forthcoming Christmas Party.
Both said they were very impressed with the all work that was on show and it was a wonderful evening with a great response from the public that raised £800. Money that will be used to provide Christmas festivities for our service users and their families.
Our thanks go to everyone that helped make this such a fantastic event.
Hoist for The Kennedy Suite
Those of you that attend Headway Northampton will be aware that we have been trying to raise money for a hoist that can be used in the Kennedy Suite bath, showers and Jacuzzi.
We are pleased to announce that with the help of organisations such as the Boothville over 60's Club, Nether Heyford Baptist Church, Shoosmiths Solicitors and from Christine Silver in memory of Barry Tickner,
one of our first clients some 30 years ago, that we have now raised enough money to make that purchase.
And Shire Mobility, a local business trading opposite our unit, who are always supportive of our work have also generously given us a discount on the hoist. Hopefully this means we can even have it installed for our service users before Christmas.
Having the hoist available will be wonderful, meaning that the facilities offered in the Kennedy Suite will be accessible to more people with a disability than ever before. Because although the Kennedy Suite is based in Headway Northampton these facilities are available to anyone
with a disability, not just those that have had a brain injury. For more information please contact us.
In Memory of Mickey
You will know in the last newsletter we had to let you all know about the sad loss of one of our service users Mikey Edwards.
The service users of Headway Northampton wanted to organise some sort of memoriam for Mikey. It was decided after a group discussion that they wanted to raise the money for a bench in the garden where they could sit and have a quiet moment.
This has been achieved by the making and selling of cupcakes, selling bric-a brac and individual donations. The bench has now been purchased and is in pride of place in the garden, a plaque too has been added to it.
As Mikey loved to play pool we will also be organising an annual Pool Knockout with a cup that will be engraved every year with the winner. The winner will take home a smaller trophy and the cup will stay at Headway Northampton on display for all to see.
Everyone in the unit has been a part of these fundraising ventures proving that Mikey will not be forgotten, but thought about often. The Pool knockout begins in the New Year.
Northampton Half Marathon - 22nd Sept 2013
We wanted everyone to know about the marvellous fundraising work of 4 people who ran specifically for Headway Northampton in the inaugeral Northampton Half Marathon.
We are extremely grateful for their time and effort and also wish to thank everybody who sponsored them. We even produced a special thank you .pdf which you can see by clicking this link.
Summer/Autumn 2013 Newsletter
Catch up on all the recent events at Headway Northampton, and the wonderful support we receive from the community, with our latest Summer/Autumn Newsletter
