Spotlight on: Headway Gloucestershire
This week is Small Charity Week (22–29 June 2026) and we’re taking the opportunity to shine a light on the amazing work being done by some of Gloucestershire’s small charities.
Today we’re taking a look at the Headway Gloucestershire (https://headwaygloucestershire.org.uk/)
Tell us a bit about Headway Gloucestershire
Headway Gloucestershire (registered charity 299805) has 14 staff and supports nearly 150 people every week who have an Acquired Brain Injury (ABI). We started in 1981 and so have existed now for 45 years. We shall celebrate in 2028, as we will have been formally registered as a Charity since 1988, so 40 years.
We provide services for the whole of Gloucestershire which include our Enablement Centre in Gloucester, our hubs around the county, Peer Support and Carer support groups and a hospital liaison service. With a validated net Social Return on Investment (SROI of £5.49 per £1.00 invested, for our Enablement Centre, this clearly evidences the value of our service across Gloucestershire (for every £1.00 we receive we generate a net return of £5.49 in value).
What is an Acquired Brain Injury?
Acquired Brain Injury (ABI) is an umbrella term for any injury to the brain sustained since birth, excluding neurodegenerative conditions such as multiple sclerosis and motor neurone disease. By far the most common forms of ABI are traumatic brain injury (TBI; otherwise referred to as head injury and stroke). Other causes include brain tumour, meningitis, aneurysm, haemorrhage, encephalitis, anoxia, and other conditions.
“The brain controls everything we do, and brain injury can affect every aspect of who we are. The physical, cognitive, emotional, and behavioural effects of ABI can have devastating consequences for individuals and their families”.
What are your main challenges at present?
We want to raise the profile of the impact of Acquired brain injury –
Our Vision is:
To be recognised as the expert provider of support for people with an acquired brain injury and to continue to campaign to increase knowledge and awareness of the impact of acquired brain injury on individuals and those close to them.
To create an environment where people are ‘back on track in a way that is right for you’ and campaign to ask that people with an acquired brain injury are treated equally in society
We do have contracts with the County Council and the NHS (Integrated Care Board), however, everyone is short of money and there is very little grant funding available for core or operational costs. We have a big gap and must fundraise and use our reserves just to deliver our services.
We would also like to expand our services, so that we can support more people in different ways and provide more activities as well as upgrading our facilities. We are so grateful to those organisations and trusts that have and are currently providing funding for us and to people who have kindly raised money for us.
We would like to pay higher wages to our team to recognise the work they do and recruit more staff to provide an even higher quality service, which again, is not possible in the current climate. The people we value most in society are sadly paid the national living wage in the care sector.
Why do you think that small charities (like Headway Gloucestershire) are important?
Small charities across the world provide support to people who need it most in a compassionate and swift manner
Without the network of charities supporting people in challenging circumstances many more people would struggle on a daily basis with social isolation, having food on the table, paying the bills, coping with illness and finding a new way to live in many cases
Through collaboration we help people from falling through the gaps in society and provide them with a listening ear, a place to stay or a place they can be themselves and feel safe
What people say about Headway Gloucestershire
‘At Headway I feel I am helping others and they are helping me’
‘This is the only time I don’t have to worry about mum; I know she’s doing her thing at Headway’
‘The communication group gives me the chance to have a go at things somewhere where everyone understands me’
‘It’s getting easier to walk through the door. I haven’t been able to walk through any other doors but I think this one will help me’
‘I have learnt that its ok to be tired and I understand that I’m not lazy. I’ve learnt strategies like using a timetable that are really working and helping a lot’
‘I wouldn’t still be here without Headway’
You can find out more about Headway Gloucestershire by visiting their website (https://headwaygloucestershire.org.uk/) or e-mailing admin@headwaygloucestershire.org.uk
If you’d like to make a donation, visit https://www.justgiving.com/charity/cotswoldtrust