A Thank You From Our Chief Executive - Action for Brain Injury Week.

Our main aim during Action for Brain Injury Week was to raise awareness of childhood acquired brain injury; many people are unaware that an accident or illness during childhood can go on to have long lasting consequences as it affects a child’s brain development.

We used Action for Brain Injury Week as an opportunity to highlight some of the experiences families have faced following childhood brain injury.  Their stories gave a touching and enlightening picture of what they have faced and how they have overcome many obstacles. However, above all their stories demonstrate strength and resilience at a time in their lives when they are at their most vulnerable.  Their strength drives us on to ensure that more families have access to information and the vital support when they need it to help them cope with childhood brain injury.

We also highlighted the magnificent support both families and our corporate supporters like JMW solicitors have given us.  Without their support we would struggle to meet the demand for our services on a daily basis.  We are indebted to them for their efforts especially in these difficult times.

Each year there are many thousands of families who face a new life, one they did not ask for or deserve and it falls to charity’s like ours to provide support through our Helpline, our direct support programme and through the awareness raising we do about the long term consequences of childhood brain injury and the affect it can have on the whole family.

Action for Brain Injury Week does not stop for us on the 19th May, it continues week after week.  We are committed to our cause and want to see every family affected by childhood brain injury receive the support they need when they need it.

Thank you to everyone who contributed to our campaign, especially Laurie, Melissa, Megan, Jamie, Conor, Leigh Day and to the team at JMW Solicitors.

Lisa Turan
Chief Executive Officer

Action for Brain Injury Week - Sunday

This is the last blog post in the series for Action for Brain Injury Week; we would like to thank everyone who has been following us throughout the week.

For our final post we hear from our trustee Andy Caudell and look at how we can continue to take action throughout the year.

 “Action for Brain Injury Week is a unique opportunity to turn the spotlight onto organisations such as the Child Brain Injury Trust who quietly and tirelessly work so hard to offer a true and lasting support to what is, in a sense, a silent disability, or challenge, for the affected child and family (It is not the case that children with an acquired Brain Injury always exhibit external signs of their challenges, which is in itself one of the many issues that needs to be overcome).”

The complexities of brain injury, as Andy highlights, is one of the main reasons why we need to continue to raise awareness and use Action for Brain Injury Week as an opportunity to inform people of the services available.

“I know only too well the disruption and emotional upheaval that comes from having to adjust to life with a child with a brain injury. The Child Brain Injury Trust is literally the friend and anchor that families need when faced with this and their work in helping those children and families navigate those daunting first steps to secure the future for that child and family are so important - I feel duty-bound, as a proud Trustee of this wonderful organisation, to do anything that I can that raises funds and highlight the very important role the Child Brain Injury Trust can play in easing the challenges ahead for those families we support.”

Andy will be completing the Blenheim Triathlon in June and his first Half Iron-man Distance Triathlon at the
Cotswold 113 Class event in August this year to raise money for the Child Brain Injury Trust.

If you would like show your support to Andy and the Child Brain Injury Trust you can visit his Just Giving page www.justgiving.com/andy-caudell.

Andy’s fundraising is an exciting way to take our actions from this week forward and continue to raise awareness in the future. Please spread the word and visit our website  for more information.

Thank you to Andy Caudell and thank you all for taking action!

Action for Brain Injury Week - Saturday

The weekend has arrived which must only mean one thing; skydivers! Today we focus on a member of our Legal Services Directory, Leigh Day and how they have taken to the skies to take action and raise money for the Child Brain Injury Trust.

Tomorrow 5 members of the law firm Leigh Day will bravely be undertaking a tandem skydive in aid of the Child Brain Injury Trust. Julien Gless, Ellen Parry, Abdelghani Bendjenni, Jonathan Chand and Marie Hobart will all be jumping from Swindon Airfield on Sunday 19th May. So far they have managed to raise £1770 for the charity.

Jonathan Chand one of the brave skydivers had this to say: “Although many would be terrified at the thought of jumping 10,000ft from a small plane, the thought of all the young children and their families who have to overcome the challenges of a brain injury every day gives me the motivation to be able to do this. The Child Brain Injury Trust do an excellent job to help assist and any money raised to aid their cause is well worth the knee trembling jump!”

We wish the team the best of luck tomorrow and look forward to seeing some photos.

Why Legal Action is so Important 

The Child Brain Injury Trust produces an annual Legal Services Directory because we understand that our families may need access to legal services following their child’s brain injury. Rather than instructing your local solicitor, the law firms featured in our directory are specialists in personal injury or clinical negligence claims and have experience of working on cases linked to children’s claims.

If you believe there may have been negligence or someone was at fault in relation to a child’s brain injury we urge you to take action and have a look through our Legal Services Directory.  There are many useful articles to help you navigate your way through the system.

Leigh Day feature as a member in our Legal Services Directory and we thank the team for showing their support during Action for Brain Injury Week.


f you would like support or more information, contact our helpline on 0303 303 2248 or helpline@cbituk.org.

If you'd like to get involved in taking Action or supporting our work, please email Emily Honey.

Action for Brain Injury Week - Friday

Today we have chosen to highlight the crucial work the Child Brain Injury Trust’s Northern Ireland team have been doing during Action for Brain Injury Week.

Our Northern Ireland office has joined forces during this week with other voluntary sector organisations who work with children, young people and adults with a brain injury and their carers. The group have produced a video to help people understand ‘there is life after brain injury’.

Teresa’s Story

Teresa with her son's Conor and Jamie

In 2005, the lives of mum Teresa McKee and her two young boys were to change forever.
The freak accident had been no-one’s fault– there was no speed, drink or drugs involved and the driver was only doing 25mph. Jamie had suffered from multiple injuries.

Both of his lungs had been punctured and there was evidence of brain damage. Hooked up to the life-support machine, the next few days played out in slow motion in the confines of the intensive care unit at the hospital, as Teresa watched for the rise and fall of Jamie’s little chest.

Whilst she waited for her son’s condition to improve, Teresa came across a poster for the Child Brain Injury Trust and she decided to contact the trust.

“The Child Brain Injury Trust was a lifeline. They set up counselling for both the boys. Jamie is different to how he was before the accident and both of them needed to understand that. They also helped me deal with his schooling because the accident means he needs educational support. Thanks to the Child Brain Injury Trust, Jamie was moved into a special unit in a mainstream school. If I hadn’t seen the poster that day, we’d have been left totally isolated. They have been alongside me every step of the way and are always at the end of the phone with practical and emotional support. I am so thankful for all they have done for us and I do what I can to give a little something back”.*

‘There is life after brain injury’

Today “Jamie has almost finished his first year at high school, although this change was a huge issue for Jamie at the time he has coped really well with the change. His self-confidence and independence are improving greatly, Jamie is very determined to succeed and not let his disability hold him back from anything. He continues to improve and still gets weekly physio and occupational therapy input, but has now started taking charge of his own therapies and doing his exercises daily at home.”

We would also like to congratulate Jamie’s brother Conor who recently won the ‘Young Carer of the Year’ award at the Credit Union Awards in Belfast.

Taking Action

Tomorrow Teresa and other supporters will be taking action and raising money for the Child Brain Injury Trust. They have chosen to abseil down one of Belfast’s tallest buildings, the Europa Hotel.

If you would like to show your support and help others text CBIT18 followed by the amount you would like to donate to 70070. Or if you happen to be in the area come and cheer everyone on.

Thank you to Teresa, Conor and Jamie McKee.

*Quote from article in the Big Lottery Fund magazine.

For more information on Action for Brain Injury Week, please contact Emily Honey.

Action for Brain Injury Week - Thursday

Today we will hear from Katie Wightman from Prestwich, Manchester to find out how the Child Brain Injury has helped her and how she is giving something back.

Katie’s Story

“Before Megan’s accident I had never actually heard of an Acquired Brain Injury to be honest.”

Megan before her accident in 2010

A few years ago Katie’s daughter Megan acquired a brain injury after suffering 5 bleeds to the brain following being hit by a car travelling at 41 mph. Katie found about the Child Brain Injury Trust when she was struggling with Megan at home and decided to get in touch with the charity.

As a charity we can help parents understand what has happened to their child and what this might mean for the future.

“When Fiona [Regional Child and Family Support Coordinator for the North West] was sent out to us we were given lots of information and I found things that I could never really understand before a lot clearer. It is good to be able to just pick up the phone and ask for advice or just have someone with an understanding to talk to.”

Taking Action

Since becoming involved in the charity Katie has held various fundraising events and has taken action to raise awareness of acquired brain injury and to fundraise for the Child Brain Injury Trust.

Katie is an actively involved supporter who has held collections, an Easter Bonnet parade, bake sales and pub quiz nights raising around £350 from the last one that took place recently.

Action for Brain Injury Week is focused on taking action during 13th-19th May this year; however, we would like to thank Katie for her continued support. She is also planning more activities throughout the year.

‘Hope for tomorrow – today’

Megan with her sisters Emily and Alice

 “I would feel lost if the Child Brain Injury Trust did not exist, I have learned to deal with things in a more positive way and it is also nice to know I am not alone, there are other people out there with the same if not more problems than myself but it is also good to know there are people like the Child Brain Injury Trust out there to help us through the good and the bad times.” 

If you take one action today, help us spread the word to get people to understand childhood acquired brain injury and know that the Child Brain Injury Trust is here to provide support.

Thank you to Katie for her fundraising and for sharing her story.

If you would like support or more information, contact our helpline on 0303 303 2248 or helpline@cbituk.org. 

If you'd like to get involved in taking Action or supporting our work, please email Emily Honey.

Action for Brain Injury Week - Wednesday

We have decided to do something different today; JMW Solicitors have kindly put together a video of how they have been taking action to raise awareness and fundraise for the charity.

You can watch the video on our YouTube channel here. Or read below for the transcript of the video.

JMW Manchester Marathon Team

“Hello my name is Gordon Cartwright; I’m a partner in the Personal Injury department at JMW. Foolishly, I agreed to do a zip slide in aid of the Child Brain Injury Trust, a fantastic charity but I cannot say it is something that I am particularly looking forward to, not over the moon about falling off the end of a building on a zip wire so the part that I am looking forward to most... is being un-clipped at the other end of the zip line.”

Gordon joined the rest of Team JMW who have been taking action for the Child Brain Injury Trust, doing everything from zip slides to marathons.

Action for their cause is important to us [JMW] let us tell you why...

An estimated 1 in 30 children and young people in Britain will sustain a brain injury.

The brain is not fully developed until you reach your mid-20s, so predicting a final outcome in the case of childhood brain injury is very hard.

“If you have a child who has a brain injury, that is something that is more than likely going to be with them for the rest of their lives, so as a charity I think it is as worthwhile as you get.”

JMW Solicitors has worked with many families affected by brain injury, and we see firsthand the heartache and pain it can cause. The Child Brain Injury Trust provides VITAL emotional support to families affected by brain injury during a very difficult time.

“I think it is important, that as Personal Injury lawyers we give something back to the clients that we represent.”

This is why Hannah Atkinson (Paralegal) was one of four from JMW who took action and ran the Manchester Marathon in 3hr 48!

“Naturally it is a fantastic cause; I think it deserves being thrust into the public eye and every bit of support that we can possibly raise for it, and every bit of awareness I think is well deserved because it really just gives the charity the opportunity to bring to the public attention how difficult it is for both the children and families on a day to day basis.”

When we take action for the Child Brain Injury Trust, we think about all the families who have been affected by brain injuries who we have encountered as lawyers.

Why is Action for Brain Injury Week important?

“It is an important issue, and I think that there are a lot of misconceptions out there about brain injuries and people perhaps don’t realise just what a massive impact it can have on people’s lives and to bring that more into the public eye is definitely very worthwhile.” 

JMW is a member of the Child Brain Injury Trust’s Legal Services Directory and we would like to thank them for their support.

If you would like support or more information, contact our helpline on 0303 303 2248 or helpline@cbituk.org.

If you'd like to get involved in taking Action or supporting our work, please email Emily Honey.

Action for Brain Injury Week - Tuesday

Please share this story and help us raise awareness of brain injury amongst children.  A brain injury can be hidden and often leads to difficulties at school.  Teachers and learning support staff attending our training days can learn strategies to help a brain injured child achieve their full potential.  

Today we’re sharing Melissa’s story as told by her mum Barbara…

Melissa with her artwork from our youth group's graffiti workshop.

“Two years ago my world was turned upside down, when my daughter Melissa, age 8, was knocked down coming home from school.  Melissa was in a coma, she suffered 5 bleeds on the brain which led to a brain injury.

We were told to say our goodbyes that day, there was little hope.  But our little princess was a fighter.  She came out of her coma and all we could do was wait and see if she would fully recover.  Anybody that knows Melissa is well aware that she likes to talk.  I just could not imagine how she would be not being able to chat.  Very quickly she began to walk, talk, feed herself.  It was like a miracle.  We were getting our little girl back.”

When she was discharged from hospital, the Child Brain injury Trust became involved, giving support to Melissa and the family, "We did not acknowledge the support at the beginning as we believed Melissa was fine and we would just get on with it all. 

Gradually, issues started to arise at school and Melissa was becoming so unhappy and lonely.  This broke my heart. She was aware that she was different from before the accident.  This was the stage that we realised we needed help and support.

"The Child Brain Injury Trust has helped us and the school to recognise Melissa’s needs.  Their specialist staff go into schools and train the teachers and work with other children to give them a better understanding.  They also have awareness days for professionals and will be involved with Melissa all through school.

The staff at the Child Brain Injury Trust have been a valuable support and continue to be.  Melissa had also gone through early puberty as a result of the brain injury and the charity supported us to support her with this in a child-friendly way.  We have now accepted that we will not know the final outcome until she is 21.”

If you would like support, please call our helpline on 0303 303 2248. 
For more information on childhood brain injury, visit our website.
If you’d like to get involved with supporting our work, please email Emily Honey.

Action for Brain Injury Week - Monday

Our main aim during Action for Brain Injury Week is to raise awareness of childhood acquired brain injury.  Many people are unaware that an accident or illness during childhood can go on to have long lasting consequences as it affects a child’s brain development.  Many families who are struggling with these consequences are unaware that the Child Brain Injury Trust is here to help.  Please share our stories this week – help us reach them, and help us continue to support them.  Take action!

Today we're sharing Laurie McGinley's story...

While getting ready for school one morning at the age of nine, Laurie suffered an intense fit.  He was rushed to hospital and found to be suffering from viral encephalitis.

Laurie had to undergo emergency surgery to relieve the pressure on his brain and went through weeks of hospital care. After his initial recovery, he then required months of mental and physical rehabilitation as well.  Laurie had been left with mild cerebral palsy – and little self-confidence.

Maggie, Laurie’s Mum, found out about the Child Brain Injury Trust and got in touch to see if we could help.  As he really enjoyed playing football, our Child and Family Support Coordinator Mary introduced him to the Scottish Football Association’s disability squad. He never looked back!

He won a place in the Scotland Cerebral Palsy Football Team, representing his country in dozens of games and being crowned Scotland’s top goalscorer at the Cerebral Palsy World Cup in 2011.  Laurie is a defender in the team, currently rated fifth in the world and fourth in Europe. 

He has also gained a degree in sports and active lifestyle promotion at Glasgow Caledonian University, graduating in 2012, and gives up a lot of his spare time to coach football to youngsters at a number of local clubs.  This summer Laurie plans to travel to the United States to advance his coaching skills so he can teach pro-youth teams.

During Action for Brain Injury Week Laurie, with the help of his colleagues, has arranged a fundraising day at the St Leonards Tesco store in East Kilbride where he works part-time.  On Saturday 18th May there will be bag packing, a tombola and a raffle with some great prizes from top Scottish football clubs. Laurie told us, “Raising cash for the Child Brain Injury Trust is my way of giving something back.”  Sounds like it’s going to be a great day! 

If you would like support or more information, contact our helpline on 0303 303 2248 or helpline@cbituk.org.
If you'd like to get involved in taking Action or supporting our work, please email Emily Honey.