Louise Wilkinson Wins Prestigious UKABIF Award 2012 For Inspiration

This year’s UK Acquired Brain Injury Forum (UKABIF) Award for Inspiration was presented to Louise Wilkinson, Training Manager at the Oxfordshire-based Child Brain Injury Trust.   The Award was presented at the 4th UKABIF Annual Conference 2012 which took place this month in Birmingham.

Louise won the Award because of her awareness raising work on behalf of young offenders affected by Acquired Brain Injury, which also includes setting up the Criminal Justice and Acquired Brain Injury Interest Group (CJABIIG).  The CJABIIG was established in January 2011 as a consortium of representative groups spanning public, private and third sector organisations.

Introducing the Award, Professor Michael Barnes, UKABIF Chair said: “Despite her day job at the Child Brain Injury Trust, Louise has been inspirational through her efforts, determination and dedication to running workshops for youth justice professionals to raise awareness of the significant number of children and young people in the youth justice system with an undiagnosed Acquired Brain Injury.  This also planted the seed for what was to become the CJABIIG, with Louise being not only one of the founding members, but providing the secretariat, chairing the meetings and organising the CJABIIGs first conference”.

The Stephen McAleese Award for Inspiration is for an individual in the field of ABI and was presented by John and Susan McAleese.  

Commenting on the Award, Louise said: “I’m very pleased to have received this Award.  The CJABIIG has matured to be a powerful lobby group, driving forward the issue of Acquired Brain Injury and offending across Government.  Recently we’ve managed to procure the services of Lord Ramsbotham as the new Chair of the CJABIIG which further strengthens our influence and reach within Government – the works goes on”.

Press Release Submitted by UKABIF 

Road Safety Week

Be seen, be safe!

Monday 19th November marks the start of Road Safety Week.  Sadly, a number of children we support sustained their brain injury as a result of a road traffic accident.  Children such as Melissa, who was knocked down on her way home from school at the age of 8.  Melissa's mum Barbara said it turned her world upside down, "Melissa was in a coma, she suffered 5 bleeds on the brain and suffered a brain injury.  We were told to say our goodbyes that day, there was little hope."

Thankfully, Melissa came round from her coma and made a very promising recovery, "very quickly she began to walk, talk, feed herself. It was like a miracle. We were getting our little girl back." Barbara adds, "Melissa is now 11 years old and continues to amaze us every day with her achievements."



Barbara, Melissa, Konar and Andy collecting their
'Inspirational Family' award from Digby Brown's
Kathleen McMonagle at our recent lunch

It hasn't been plain sailing to achieve this progress, with some difficulties at school and the issue of premature puberty to deal with in a sensitive, child-friendly fashion.  The Child Brain Injury Trust has been there to support the whole family over the years, helping them and Melissa's teachers to better understand brain injury. 

"Child Brain Injury Trust have been a valuable support and continue to be. They helped us and the school recognise her needs. They go into schools and train the teachers and worked with Melissa’s peers to give them a better understanding. They also have awareness days for professionals. They will be involved with Melissa all through school."



Wearing bright or fluorescent clothes during the day, and reflective
materials in the dark can all help.  The Child Brain Injury Trust's
project in Scotland has a number of reflective 'slapwraps'
to hand out to pupils during their talks in schools.

There are a number of things we can all do to help keep children safer on the roads: adhere to speed limits when driving; be aware of cyclists and give them plenty of room; help our children learn to stop, look and listen; make sure children are as visible as possible - especially as the winter days and nights draw in.

We have some fabby bike helmets for sale that have LED lighting the whole way around them.  Click here for more info.  A portion of the sales of these helmets will also go to funding our work.

Posted by Claire, Regional Fundraising Officer (Scotland)
 









Scottish Awards Lunch

Celebrating those who make our work in Scotland possible and so rewarding

Our Scottish project was able to officially recognise the support and inspiration we receive from those we work with at our 21st birthday celebration and awards ceremony on 19th October.  Held at Edinburgh's Royal Botanic Gardens, and made possible due to the support of Digby Brown Solicitors, it was a wonderful day, enjoyed by all.



Jacqueline McPherson (Specialist Paediatric Neurology Nurse at Royal Hospital for Sick
Children, Edinburgh), received the Impact Award in recognition of her close work with the
Scottish project over the years. Awarded by Robert Swanney, Senior Partner at Digby Brown Solicitors.

The Shearer family with Kathleen McMonagle of Digby Brown.
Deserving winners of the Inspirational Family Award.



Lauchlan Dougall and family, winner of Supporter of the Year Award.
Lauchlan raised over £2500 for the charity this year; a truly inspirational young man.

The awards were hand carved by Ike Curran especially for the occasion. More info on Ike's work can be found here: http://www.wheelchairwoodturners.org.uk/index.htm

Added by Claire, Regional Fundraising Officer (Scotland)