ORIGINS OF HEADWAY
In 1979 in the UK a gentleman named Sir Neville Butterworth placed an advertisement in a national daily newspaper asking for holiday accommodation for his brain-injured son.
His advert was answered by a reader called Dinah Minton who also had a brain injured son. Together they set out to discover what resources existed in the UK for the survivors of Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) once they had left hospital. They found only 2 clubs in the whole of the British Isles!
Realising that there was a huge need, they formed an organisation to work for the benefit of brain injury survivors and their families – and this was how Headway National was established.
Since its inception, Headway has become an international association with branches in various parts of the world, including South Africa which has 6 branches.
Headway-Natal was started in 1981 by Aubrey Marrs, whose son had been injured in a car accident. Headway started off as a support group that met once a week. In 1998, a house was purchased from the Lynn family who also had a son who had sustained a head injury. The house is situated at No 11 Menston Road, Westville and we are able to offer five days a week Rehabilitation and Occupational Activity Programme.
What we have achieved to date
- Began Work Skills initiative to teach skills to our attendees, completed four of six modules.
- Improved holistic rehabilitation programmes from the experience gained over the past 20 years.
- Community visibility – e.g. Support from Westville Rotary Club, 31 Club and general community.
- Our records show that in the past four years our unique services have impacted on 456 patients of all cultures as well as their families.
- Integration of attendees to the National Disability Gala.
- Introducing our own annual Winter Games and Summer Gala which has resulted in improved fitness and building confidence and where attendees are encouraged to compete and improve on their previous year’s performance.
- Training for support staff and carers that work with the attendees.
We need for Headway:
Men's swimming costumes, swimming towels, hand towels, shop items such as unused gifts, ornaments, pots, pans, dishes, crockery, kitchenware, bed linen, table linen, jewellery, data projector, high pressure cleaner, computers, books, jumble, jumble and more jumble and tools. Small change for “funny money” jar!
We also have a more specific wish list available.
If you would like to assist on a financial level. our bank details follow:
Headway Natal
Standard Bank Acc No:042947456
Branch Code:045626
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