Mind over Mood after Brain Injury
2
The Pitch
Problem statement
Every 90 seconds someone in the UK is admitted to hospital with a brain injury. For many, the effects of their injury will be long-lasting and impact on their ability to return to work or education, as well as change family and friendship dynamics as they assume caring responsibilities. Whilst the brain injury itself is unlikely to impact on someone's life length, the effects, such as memory loss, cognitive deficits and physical disabilities often result in poor physical fitness and lowered stamina, loss of strength, poor mental health and emotional wellbeing, and exacerbating all this is lowered motivation and profound loss of confidence. The impact of this can be reduced life expectancy.
Solution
The project will equip and empower local people with brain injuries with tools to control their physical health, emotional wellbeing and grow their confidence through twice weekly Nordic Walking sessions, proven to support balance, co-ordination, fitness, strength and boost confidence as participants demonstrate to themselves that they can still achieve post-injury. Additionally the project would provide group relaxation sessions and reflexology, known to reduce anxiety, promote wellbeing, support sleep routines to combat fatigue and reduce pain in the head and shoulders. Relaxation sessions would run for two hours a week. Funds would be used for staffing, project resources and sanitization.
Why are we best placed to deliver?
Ours' is the only service in our area providing brain injury specialised support and rehab for as long as needed. Brain injury is distinct from other forms of disability as the effects can be 'hidden' but no less profound and life-altering than physical disability. Our project-lead has personal experience of brain injury and is a qualified practitioner, so our costs are relatively low and our clients' safety is ensured. The supported sessions are essential as most cannot afford gym access and are at risk of getting lost when walking unaccompanied. We anticipate sessions providing a springboard of confidence and achievement in a uniquely safe and supportive environment.
Focus Areas
Delivery plan
Budget breakdown
| Relaxation sessions - staff time, 2 hrs p/w, 36 weeks | £1,425 |
| Paper roll for relaxation table | £28 |
| Antibacterial spray | £9 |
| Blue roll for cleaning | £16 |
| Printing / photocopying for handouts to reinforce learning for those with memory loss | £29 |
| Base oil for reflexology sessions | £41 |
| Nordic Walking - staff time, 2 hrs p/w, 24 weeks | £950 |
Beneficiaries
40 people
Expected impact
We anticipate 90% of participants to report improved mood after each session and a similar number to report improved emotional wellbeing by project end. We will track this using the ONS4 measure, evaluating satisfaction with life, sense of personal activities being worthwhile, recent levels of happiness and anxiety. Other impacts will be varied as each person experiences brain injury differently, but we anticipate clients reporting reduced sensations of pain and discomfort, improvements in physical balance and co-ordination, overall improvements in sleep routines and capability to manage daily energy levels, better anger management, and significant growth in confidence as clients demonstrate to themselves that they are still able to achieve post-injury. We expect growth in confidence to encourage engagement with more 'cognitively challenging' rehab sessions with the potential to grow independence and safety, with benefits felt amongst our clients also their families & support networks.
Track record
Our Project-lead is a qualified practitioner and has personal experience of brain injury, so our project costs are comparatively low and our clients' safety is safeguarded. A previous Nordic Walking sessions for Stroke survivors recorded improvements in participants: 43% decrease in worries about co-ordination of movement, 45% decrease in worries about balance/falling over, 65% decrease in worries about self-confidence and 22% decrease in concerns about extreme fatigue. We support people with brain injuries irr"espective of how they have been sustained (assault, road traffic collision, tumour) and consequently our clients' issues are more varied. This project will run for longer allowing for greater improvements over its course. "I feel happy knowing that they’re at Headway – not only because they’re safe but because they’re actually learning and moving forward. I trust the team and know I'm handing over to people who'll make a difference." Jo, carer to her husband and daughter