|
"Brain injuries are the largest cause of death and disability
in young people." This quote from the Select Committee on
Health has been adopted by Headway, the brain injury association,
as its theme for this year's Brain Injury Awareness Week.
Leicestershire, Leicester and Rutland Headway knows this from
experience. But its counselling and rehabilitation services for
victims and their carers has traditionally been targetted at adults.
Deputy General Manager Sue Hannam says "We are aware that
caring for young people needs a different set of skills, experience
and contacts. For this reason we are trying to 'network' with
other organisations." Headway is in the process of establishing
links with Connexions, the integrated service for young people.
Connexions covers health, careers, education and training advice,
money and benefits, drugs, relationships, housing and legal advice.
"It covers all the schools and colleges", says Sue,
"and can pass on the news about our services to young people
with acquired brain injuries. Hopefully it can help to raise awareness
in a way that we, with limited staff, would find very difficult."
There have recently been several referrals to Headway from schools,
including one that also involves the Youth Offending Team. Concern
that young people may fall through the net when they leave school
is very real. Sue Hannam says that the best Headway can aim for
at present is to identify the need, then offer advice and support
through the school leaving period. "The target is to be able
to work towards joined up services which give young brain injured
people continuity and structure."
Headway's initiative is still in its infancy, but presentations
have been made or are being planned to the Connexions teams in
the City and in Coalville, Loughborough, Hinckley, Market Harborough
and Melton Mowbray. If you know of a school leaver with brain
injury problems, you can get in touch with the Headway Connexions
initiative through their school, or directly through Headway or
Connexions. Headway can be contacted at 4 Hospital Close Leicester
(0116 273 9763) or by e-mail.
This release issued by Richard Bird (richard.bird@HeadwayLeicester.org.uk
or 01327 704734). More from Richard Bird or Sue Hannam on 0116
273 9763
AW03/Conn/180203
|
