ABI Week provides an annual platform on which Headway can raise awareness of brain injury and the work it does to support those affected.
Each year, Headway UK launches a new campaign during ABI Week, encouraging and supporting the Headway network to participate.
In 2024, ABI Week will be between the 20th – 26th May with Hats for Headway Day taking place on Friday 17th May 2024.
2024 Campaign Name: A life re-written
A brain injury can happen to anyone, at any time. A life re-written, will aim to raise awareness of brain injury by not only highlighting the impact it can have on individuals and families, but also asking people to imagine the ‘what if’ scenario none of us like to consider.
Headway will be illustrating how easily life plans can be thrown into disarray. It will tell those ‘sliding doors’ stories of lives changed in an instant, asking survivors and families to paint a mental picture for others to visualise with the aim of connecting the general public to the impact of ABI.
A life re-written is about identity after brain injury, how survivors have experienced post-traumatic growth through a process of change.
The campaign will also give Headway the opportunity to detail how it has helped to rebuild lives after brain injury through the personal stories of brain injury survivors which will be central to the campaign. It will chart positive examples of brain injury survivors who have experienced post-traumatic growth and successfully re-built their careers, relationships and lives. Headway will also chart the realism of life post-brain injury and how positive outcomes aren’t always the norm. This would include the ripple effect on others, for example how partners are affected, how they also make life changes, sacrifices and adjustments to their own goals and expectations.
Headway has launched a new set of surveys to gather data and experiences for the campaign. The two new surveys have been written to gather first-hand insight into thoughts and experiences around identity after brain injury. One is for people with brain injury, while the other is for families, partners, friends and carers of a brain injury survivor. Each survey takes around 14 minutes to complete and can be done anonymously. Surveys should be completed by 26 February 2024.
If you wish to participate please select your survey below:
Members that might require assistance in completing the survey, or that require a paper copy of the survey, should speak to Natalie at the Day Centre, or call the Headway North Cumbria Helpline on 07508 111834.
The results of the survey will be announced during ABI Week 2024 (20th – 26th May 2024).