New Service Reaches Out to Brain Injured Across Grampian
A new outreach programme offering a lifeline to people with a brain injury and their carers throughout the Grampian region of Scotland was launched this week.
Transitions is being delivered by leading not-for-profit organisation Momentum in partnership with the Brain Injury Grampian (BIG) voluntary support group, following an award of almost £167,000 (£166,887) over three years from The Big Lottery Fund.
The joint community programme aims to bridge the gap experienced by people with brain injury following their discharge from hospital and rehabilitation programmes such as Momentum’s established Pathways service in Aberdeen which provides specialist training and support for adults with a brain injury who want to return to work or further education.
Working throughout Grampian, two community workers will set up a support network for both people with a brain injury and their families and carers. This aims to reduce the isolation often felt by people following a brain injury, helping them to reintegrate into their communities and move towards living more independently.
Among the benefits for carers will be the chance to share concerns and experiences with others in similar situations and improved access to information about other sources of help such as welfare rights.
Dorothy Strachan, Manager of Momentum’s Aberdeen brain injury service, said: “Brain injury can leave people with a variety of difficulties, including physical disability, memory loss and mental health difficulties. Their quality of life and behaviour may change dramatically, affecting not only on those who have been injured but their families and carers.
“Often there’s a social and economic impact as well. Many people are unable to return to work immediately after a brain injury and feel isolated, particularly those living in remote rural areas.
“Transitions aims to smooth the way for people coming out of hospital, reducing those feelings of isolation and provide a continuous path towards rehabilitation, ultimately helping them move towards a more independent future.
“We look forward to working in partnership with the BIG Group in a project that is hopefully the first step on the way to forming a cohesive strategy for people with brain injury and their carers in Grampian. ”
The BIG Group supports carers individually, and meets regularly in different venues across Aberdeen, Aberdeenshire and in Moray, making it possible for carers to meet and share experiences.
Dr Liz Gray, convenor of the BIG group, said: “Prior to the setting up of the BIG Group, people in this region with a brain injury often left hospital to little support or help and often felt lonely and despairing. Their families could also feel completely overwhelmed by the change in personality and reduction in skills caused by the brain injury.
“The BIG Group was set up to provide informal support and friendship and to campaign for better local provision and understanding. The appointment of these two outreach workers is a tremendous advance towards this.'
Transitions is also supported by NHS Grampian and the local statutory authorities – Aberdeen City, Aberdeenshire and Moray Councils. The design of the Transitions project has emerged from close involvement with the local statutory authorities, working towards a joint strategy for provision of service.
Momentum has a long track of providing brain injury services and in addition to Aberdeen, operates specialist brain injury services in Glasgow, Ayrshire and the Scottish Borders. Its vocational brain injury services now support more than 80% of project participants into employment or on to further education or training.
Without specialist support such as that offered by Momentum, only 30% of people with brain injuries will return to employment.
Transitions is currently based at Momentum’s brain injury service, South Wing, Migvie House, 23 North Silver Street, Aberdeen. For further details about Transitions please contact Community Integration Officer Sally Sorrie, e-mail sally.sorrie@momentumscotland.org or call her on 01224 625580.
Details of all Momentum’s services can be found at www.momentumscotland.org For more information about the BIG Group go to www.big-group.org.uk
Note for editors:
Momentum is a not-for profit organisation which currently assists around 1500 disabled and excluded people from 29 locations across Scotland each year For further information please contact Lorna King at Momentum, telephone 0141 221 2333
Note for editors:
Momentum is a not-for profit organisation which currently assists around 1500 disabled and excluded people from 29 locations across Scotland each year
For further information please contact Lorna King at Momentum, telephone 0141 221 2333
