At Headway East London we are constantly working to bring together institutions, researchers, and public bodies to drive positive change for people living with brain injury.
Brain injury is complex, often invisible, and lifelong and the needs of our community too often go unmet.
For this year’s Action for Brain Injury Week, we’re proud to spotlight four powerful collaborations that are helping us expand our influence and advocate for better understanding, care, and policies for those living with brain injury.
These initiatives reflect our commitment to working with organisations that shape key areas of life for our members, from healthcare to employment, research and policy.
Partnering with Ingeus:
influencing the system
Earlier this year, we welcomed Niall Smith from Ingeus, the new provider commissioned by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) to deliver Health Advisory Assessment Service.
These are the assessments that healthcare providers use to evaluate different aspects of a patient’s health and to assign Personal Independent Payments (PIP), which is a lifeline for many people living with brain injury whose condition is life-long and irreversible.
our latest art studio exhibition
Niall and the team really appreciated meeting our community and discussing the fluctuating nature of brain injury. They were impressed by our work and gained a better understanding of how we support our members.
As part of PIP assessments, healthcare professionals use detailed health condition documents called Condition Insight Reports to assist claimants applying for benefits, and we are proud that Headway East London has written the one on brain injury.
Through an ongoing and positive relationship with Ingeus, we’re helping to shape the future of assessments for brain injury survivors. The collaboration aims at educating assessors, advocating for nuance, and pushing for a more compassionate, informed system.
at The Magic of Chaos film screening
Film Screening at Sainsbury Wellcome Centre:
bridging lived experience and science
In a powerful evening of storytelling and dialogue, we co-hosted a film screening of our award-winning film The Magic of Chaos at the Sainsbury Wellcome Centre, a leading hub for neuroscience research.
After the screening, a panel brought together voices from lived experience and neuroscience to explore pressing questions: what does effective rehabilitation look like? What do we need more research on? And how can creativity play a central role in recovery?
With contributions from Prof. Andrew Bateman, Neuroscientist Dr Julia Harris, our Director of Services Claire Farringdon Douglas, Film Director Kit Vincent, and Headway member Dave Mercer, the panel was a dynamic conversation about identity, freedom, and the future of brain injury rehabilitation.
This event not only raised awareness but planted seeds for deeper collaborations in the future.
Welcoming the Department of Health & Social Care:
spotlighting gaps and opportunities
We were honoured to host Policy Advisors Cerys Boulger, Lucy Mowatt and Connie Blach from the Department of Health and Social Care for a lively lunchtime visit.
The discussion was honest and impactful, covering the “postcode lottery” of specialist rehabilitation, systemic discharge issues, and the many ways people with brain injury can be left unsupported.
Director of Development Natalie Clapshaw
Nora Brennan, our Therapy Service Manager, shared her work auditing gaps in the mental health system for our community, sparking passionate conversation about policy and service design.
We are also looking forward to sharing more about our work with members of the DHSC Adult Social Care Groups.
Over food and a tour of our centre, we began building what we hope will be a long-lasting relationship; one rooted in the shared goal of making the system work better for people with brain injury.
part of Queen Mary University
The Blizard Institute:
exploring research opportunities
We recently visited the Blizard Institute, where Prof. Adina Michael-Titus, Professor of Neuroscience and Lead of the Centre for Neuroscience, Surgery and Trauma, and Dr Agnes Nishimura, Lecturer in Neuroscience, welcomed us with curiosity and enthusiasm.
During our tour, we discussed exciting possibilities for collaboration: shared events, educational visits, and support for our community-led research projects.
They told us about their research on brain injury, and their wish to develop strong links with us.
Together, we hope to identify gaps in the current understanding of brain injury and fill them with insight, creativity, and co-produced knowledge.
Looking Ahead
These four partnerships reflect our belief that real change happens when people with lived experience have a voice and a seat at the table to influence the policies and research that shape their lives.
Engaging directly with scientists, service providers, and policymakers is essential to driving the change our community needs and deserves.
Want to support our work, learn more about these collaborations or partnering with us?
Get in touch with our Director of Development, Natalie Clapshaw at natalie.clapshaw@headwayeastlondon.org.
