Services under threat as Headway faces cash crisis
Headway Glasgow is looking at options for the future as it approaches the end of its Big Lottery Funding. We have been funded for three years at £40,000 per year to run services for people with a brain injury and their carers. This funding will finish at the end of August 2009. We have been looking to replace funding since December last year– but at present we have managed to replace only about half of the amount we need. We still have some funding applications outstanding and this situation will change but earlier in the year we wrote up a survival plan which we intend to put into place in the coming months if we only have a minimal level of funding. This will result in cuts to staff and groups.
Headway Glasgow is looking at options for the future as it approaches the end of its Big Lottery Funding. We have been funded for three years at £40,000 per year to run services for people with a brain injury and their carers. This funding will finish at the end of August 2009. We have been looking to replace funding since December last year– but at present we have managed to replace only about half of the amount we need. We still have some funding applications outstanding and this situation will change but earlier in the year we wrote up a survival plan which we intend to put into place in the coming months if we only have a minimal level of funding. This will result in cuts to staff and groups.
The current position is that Headway Glasgow employ 1 full time project coordinator (Simon), Gwen– as Administrator for two days per week and Katherine for Outreach for three days per week. We also employ two sessional workers– Carol for Art and Clem for the Drop in. We run around 17 groups each month.
The full impact of the cut in funding would mean that the project co-ordinator would go down to 3 days, and only Clem would continue as a sessional worker. We would be able to run 8 groups per month. We work with around 100 people every month at present and we believe that the demand for the service will not reduce so the groups which continue are likely to be very busy.
Our new funders are: The Robertson Trust– funding us for £10,000 over 3 years; Lloyds TSB Foundation for Scotland funding us for £6000 for one year; and we continue to be funded by the NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde for £21,000 this year. Fundraising events generate around £5000 each year.
So what can you do? The possibilities include:
1. Consider helping in our current fundraising event– the Sponsored Walk– and you can sponsor
us online (do a search for Headway Glasgow) or in person or by cheque to the office.
us online (do a search for Headway Glasgow) or in person or by cheque to the office.
2. Consider setting up a regular standing order to Headway Glasgow
3. Find out more about helping with fundraising– a new group is established.
Headway will continue to provide some services– but maybe not as it has previously. Phone Simon if you want to find out more– 0141 332 8878.
The Way Ahead Weekend : Headway UK 30th Anniversary Conference
Ten intrepid travellers from Headway Glasgow boarded the coach, along with fellow Headway travellers from around Scotland to go to the The Way Ahead Conference at Warwick University, outside Coventry.
As we started on our journey we little thought that ahead of us lay a nine hour journey caused by
major traffic disruptions through accidents and road works on the M6. We were very grateful to our friends in Sainsbury’s Sauchiehall Street who had given us bottled water and paper cups for the journey. Spirits were mostly good however and inter-Headway Group bonding, through travel adversity, took place on the bus.
major traffic disruptions through accidents and road works on the M6. We were very grateful to our friends in Sainsbury’s Sauchiehall Street who had given us bottled water and paper cups for the journey. Spirits were mostly good however and inter-Headway Group bonding, through travel adversity, took place on the bus.
We eventually arrived to find we had not missed dinner (we were only a course behind) or Sheena McDonald, the after dinner speaker, who many will remember as a prominent TV political journalist before her own ABI ten years ago.
Headway UK staff, especially Rachel and Pauline, were found to be very helpful throughout. The major disappointment we had was that there was no loop system for those who used hearing aids. This very much diminished the ability to participate fully of at least two out of the twenty one who travelled on the bus. Talks and workshops were generally found very interesting and informative.
There was also the chance to find out what was going on in other Headway groups and branches. Of particular interest to several of our group was the presentation on the Open Minds course from Sharon Greene of Headway Dumfries.
It was a weekend when people could feel totally at ease in the company of so many strangers from all over the UK, knowing that those who did not have a brain injury were very much in the minority.
Views from the Bus home
John W.
I really enjoyed the banter and meeting new people from different places. The conference made me think about things. I didn’t enjoy the journey down – it was far too long.
John W.
I really enjoyed the banter and meeting new people from different places. The conference made me think about things. I didn’t enjoy the journey down – it was far too long.
Stephen McN.
I enjoyed getting to know people in my own group outside the “dungeon” that the drop-in is held in. I knew that if I did need any help there would be someone who could do this but I was able to be as independent as possible. The workshops were good – particularly Sharon’s on Open Minds.
I enjoyed getting to know people in my own group outside the “dungeon” that the drop-in is held in. I knew that if I did need any help there would be someone who could do this but I was able to be as independent as possible. The workshops were good – particularly Sharon’s on Open Minds.
Susan
I enjoyed the company of the group. On the whole I found it a very enjoyable experience. There were some wee negative things for example there were no large print copies of paperwork and no working loop system for people with who used hearing aids. I thought that the staff from Headway UK, especially Pauline, were wonderful and helpful
I enjoyed the company of the group. On the whole I found it a very enjoyable experience. There were some wee negative things for example there were no large print copies of paperwork and no working loop system for people with who used hearing aids. I thought that the staff from Headway UK, especially Pauline, were wonderful and helpful
Lorraine
I especially liked the disco at the end. The food was good and the catering staff were very helpful if you didn’t like something.
I especially liked the disco at the end. The food was good and the catering staff were very helpful if you didn’t like something.
John McA.
Everything was spread out for the conference and very busy. It would have been better to have had it all in one place. I enjoyed the talk from the Chief Executive (Headway UK – Peter McCabe) and the talk from the psychologist – which was all about the lifelong work that needs to be done.
Everything was spread out for the conference and very busy. It would have been better to have had it all in one place. I enjoyed the talk from the Chief Executive (Headway UK – Peter McCabe) and the talk from the psychologist – which was all about the lifelong work that needs to be done.
Mike G.
I think the conference was well organised except for the lack of a loop system which meant I couldn’t hear at the presentations and workshops. I had to rely on the overheads. I thought Sharon’s presentation was very good.
I think the conference was well organised except for the lack of a loop system which meant I couldn’t hear at the presentations and workshops. I had to rely on the overheads. I thought Sharon’s presentation was very good.
John M.
It was all very beneficial to me. I learned a lot. I met up with and talked to lots of people from different groups. I went to the gym and played squash with Stephen from Forth Valley Headway – all these amenities were free for the weekend was free to people attending the conference.
It was all very beneficial to me. I learned a lot. I met up with and talked to lots of people from different groups. I went to the gym and played squash with Stephen from Forth Valley Headway – all these amenities were free for the weekend was free to people attending the conference.
……..and from some of our fellow travellers:
Stewart (Headway Forth Valley Chairperson)
It was a fantastic weekend. I really enjoyed meeting people from other Headways especially the people on the bus down – from Scotland and Cheshire.
Stewart (Headway Forth Valley Chairperson)
It was a fantastic weekend. I really enjoyed meeting people from other Headways especially the people on the bus down – from Scotland and Cheshire.
Stephen (Headway Forth Valley)
I really enjoyed the weekend.
I really enjoyed the weekend.
Pauline ( Headway UK Scottish Development Officer)
I was delighted to spend the weekend in such good company as the boys from Glasgow and Forth Valley and the ladies from Glasgow.
I was delighted to spend the weekend in such good company as the boys from Glasgow and Forth Valley and the ladies from Glasgow.
Time Travel in a Cop Shop by David Thomson
Headway’s Social Group met on Saturday 11th of July to do a bit of time travelling at the City of Glasgow Police Museum in Bell Street, Glasgow. That may sound difficult but it was made easy with the help of our guide, Alistair Dinsmore. He might have made a most unusual timelord but he was an excellent, knowledgeable and entertaining guide as he took us on a historical tour through the life and times of the Glasgow Police right from their inception. He was keen to point out all the ‘firsts’ that the Glasgow force has been involved in. The first ‘first’ was that Glasgow had the first police force anywhere in Britain. It is often claimed in London that the Metropolitan
Police is the oldest force in the land, but Glasgow predates that by 50 years.
Police is the oldest force in the land, but Glasgow predates that by 50 years.
Other “firsts” were police dogs and their traffic division. There may have been more
but my memory is not what it was. Some of the stories he told us would lead you to believe that Glasgow has not always been as peaceful as it is now. Cops used to carry swords. Then they moved on to guns. Then at the turn of the 20th century it was decided that the British bobby
should be unarmed as politicians were sure that the world was entering a new peaceful phase where robbers wouldn’t hurt a fly and political unrest was a figment of the wildest imagination.
It’s nice to see that politicians haven’t changed much!!
but my memory is not what it was. Some of the stories he told us would lead you to believe that Glasgow has not always been as peaceful as it is now. Cops used to carry swords. Then they moved on to guns. Then at the turn of the 20th century it was decided that the British bobby
should be unarmed as politicians were sure that the world was entering a new peaceful phase where robbers wouldn’t hurt a fly and political unrest was a figment of the wildest imagination.
It’s nice to see that politicians haven’t changed much!!
Another amazing fact is that the blue police boxes (just like Doctor Who’s TARDIS ) used to be red in the Glasgow area. We were informed that this was the case right up until the 1970s. I certainly couldn’t remember red police boxes and neither could the rest of our group. We were starting to imagine that our guide might have been on a flight of fancy by this time – but no! On leaving the area and heading along Wilson Street we spotted one in the middle of the road– a red police box. As if by magic – or maybe time travel – who knows?
I’m sure everyone there enjoyed our wee trip through time. I’m equally sure we all enjoyed a separate exhibition which housed police uniforms of the world. I know for absolute certainty that we were all taken by the enthusiasm of ex-Desk Sergeant Dinsmore of Maryhill Police Station. Some people are just the right person in just the right job.
Extreme Sports by Susan Wood.
Two things I loved doing before my RTA were rock climbing and wind surfing. I no longer have the upper body strength, balance or sight to take part in these activities, but if you are prepared to put your trust in those about you who offer real friendship, be ready to take some risks and make a fool of yourself, you never know what might happen. …
Recently up near Cape Wrath with a group of friends and family, we started on a coastal route with the sounds of waves lapping the shore nearby. A dreamy day with clear blue skies, and
scenery you usually only see on a postcard. At first to me with some boulder climbing involved
the route seemed impossible, but I was hauled, pushed, and shoved sometimes with 4 people
grasping all 4 corners. I was manhandled over the difficult bits; often out of breath I was able
to stand on grassy ledges and with sea cliffs below, look out to sea and be awed by where I was- and the amazing views. As near to the exhilaration of rock climbing I would ever have, wonderful!!!
scenery you usually only see on a postcard. At first to me with some boulder climbing involved
the route seemed impossible, but I was hauled, pushed, and shoved sometimes with 4 people
grasping all 4 corners. I was manhandled over the difficult bits; often out of breath I was able
to stand on grassy ledges and with sea cliffs below, look out to sea and be awed by where I was- and the amazing views. As near to the exhilaration of rock climbing I would ever have, wonderful!!!
A few days later I was offered the chance to go on a “Topper”, these are tiny wee sailing dinghies, smaller than Wayfarers (hold 6 people) tinier than Lasers ( hold 4 people). I wet suited
up, gave over my glasses, donned a life jacket and since these dinghies are very tip-able was
prepared for a dunking in cold Scottish loch water.
up, gave over my glasses, donned a life jacket and since these dinghies are very tip-able was
prepared for a dunking in cold Scottish loch water.
As we were going to need to tack or jibe ( ‘turn’ in technical nautical terms, me hearties!) I had
to sit on the edge, but quickly slide my whole body over to balance the vessel while not being hit by the boom, which swung over when we changed direction. We quickly sped off when the wind hit our sails and we glided over the water with our bow (that’s the front end) cutting through the waves and I heard that familiar noise I used to hear when I wind surfed - gurgling and whooshing sounds, with the wind in my face ( admittedly not able to see a thing) I enjoyed the sensation so much. I dread to think what I must have looked like as we tacked. I just grabbed the mast and hooked my feet under webbing and did a crab crawl swing thing and we sped off again. Ungainly methods, but looking graceful from the shore no doubt, but with wonderful results for me. Ahhh!!
to sit on the edge, but quickly slide my whole body over to balance the vessel while not being hit by the boom, which swung over when we changed direction. We quickly sped off when the wind hit our sails and we glided over the water with our bow (that’s the front end) cutting through the waves and I heard that familiar noise I used to hear when I wind surfed - gurgling and whooshing sounds, with the wind in my face ( admittedly not able to see a thing) I enjoyed the sensation so much. I dread to think what I must have looked like as we tacked. I just grabbed the mast and hooked my feet under webbing and did a crab crawl swing thing and we sped off again. Ungainly methods, but looking graceful from the shore no doubt, but with wonderful results for me. Ahhh!!
Thank You
Thank you to everyone who has supported Headway Glasgow in any way over the last few months.
Thank you to everyone who has supported Headway Glasgow in any way over the last few months.
Particular “thank you”s go to the team of workers from the 3rd Floor Café in Debenhams Glasgow organised by Margaret Moore who raised £1832.31 for Headway Glasgow by running the Glasgow Women’s 10k in memory of their friend and colleague Marie.
Jackie and Pauline Kennaway who also ran in the Glasgow Women’s 10k and raised £203.70
And Sainsbury's Sauchiehall Street for selecting us as their local charity of the year. This means that they will work alongside us in fundraising over the next year. Our first event was a Cookie Bake Sale– they donated Cookies which we tried to help sell. This raised our profile and some money!
Thanks also to everyone for donations coming in for the sponsored walk– we will reveal the full total in the next newsletter.
Letter from “River City” .
Last month we wrote to the producer of River City to ask them about their use of ABI as a plot point in the soap. Here is an edited version of their reply. (Contact Simon for the full version).
Dear Mr Glen
Thanks for your letter regarding River City and our treatment of acquired brain injury. Your comments have been very useful and I have passed them on to the editorial team.
We take the issue of acquired brain injury (ABI) very seriously indeed and as such, the editorial team at River City have researched every case we portray thoroughly through our medical advisor (who is also a practicing doctor). It’s important to us that we try to represent all aspects of life and maintain a balance of stories, some of which have positive outcomes and some of which have negative ones…
Thanks for your letter regarding River City and our treatment of acquired brain injury. Your comments have been very useful and I have passed them on to the editorial team.
We take the issue of acquired brain injury (ABI) very seriously indeed and as such, the editorial team at River City have researched every case we portray thoroughly through our medical advisor (who is also a practicing doctor). It’s important to us that we try to represent all aspects of life and maintain a balance of stories, some of which have positive outcomes and some of which have negative ones…
We have also told more positive stories where characters have suffered a brain injury and either recovered or continued to lead a normal life (or at least normal within the dramatic context or a Soap). For example Bon fell down the stairs, was in a coma and went on to make a full recovery; Archie suffered a head injury, when he was hit over the head and thrown off a cliff but, despite his resulting amnesia, continued to live and function as a lawyer.
While I totally accept that the number of people dying of ABI in River City may be out of proportion with Glasgow’s population, the same can also be said of the number of people being murdered, being involved in accidents, having affairs etc. But, as a continuing drama, we must be able to use dramatic licence to tell stories which can interest and entertain our audience, We don’t claim that River City is real life, but do strive to represent a modern urban world– albeit exaggerated for dramatic effect in some cases. To this aim, most of our characters at some point have been involved in fights, attacks or accidents, but the storylines would perhaps become difficult to maintain and feel incredibly skewed in an unnatural direction if all, or even most of the characters, were to continue to suffer ongoing consequences. However, I take on board your wish to see an on-going character in River City who lives with ABI, it’s long term consequences as a long term condition and its effects on their family and I will pass this suggestion to the storylining team.
We wouldn’t be able to tell a story about a fund-raising event for an ABI charity, as one of the conditions of the BBC Charter is that we are unable to give undue prominence to any one charity over another.. For similar reasons, we are also unable to feature or give undue prominence to any one organisations posters or promotional material. However we do occasionally have need for general, un-featured, background set dressing and, if you would like to send me your poster, I can certainly pass it to the art department.
When we feel it’s appropriate we do put up action lines at the end of programmes. However…we are unable to refer to specific organisations on air. Instead the audience can call BBC’s own general action line, where there are advisors on hand to refer them, on a case by case basis, to a variety of organisations.
I hope this goes some way to addressing your concerns. Thank you again for your interest in River City and for taking the time to send us your thoughts. I hope that you continue to watch and enjoy the programme.
Yours sincerely,
Gaynor Holmes Executive Producer BBC Scotland, TV Drama.
Gaynor Holmes Executive Producer BBC Scotland, TV Drama.
