I've been a volunteer at Headway for Medway since it started 2 years ago. I myself have a brain injury and when I found out that the group was going to be starting up , I knew this would be beneficial for me and my Neuro-psychologist suggested that I look into a volunteer role within the group, it would give me routine, something to do and like I was achieving something. Since it had only been 1 year since the car accident that left me with a brain injury and id been struggling, I decided to take her advice and I've never looked back. I never knew how amazing the group would be.

I am not part of a group, nor am I a member. The people that attend are not clients or members- we are family!

Over the 2 years, the family has grown- we have regulars but are always having new people attend and they are welcomed. We have the best time at Headway on a Wednesday- we are all there together, we understand each other and our problems, we don't focus on our problems but we know if we want to discuss anything, we can and we all advise on ways to help. It is very comforting to have people say- I understand, I go through the same. We can't get that anywhere else.

I don't know where I would be without Headway.
To have an amazing bunch of people who are going through similar things, to call them people my family is very special. We laugh, we joke, we drink tea, we do activities if people are interested, we socialise outside of group- whether that's texting, calling, going for lunch, meeting up to play football and even nights out.

Whenever I talk about Headway, I smile, I get excited on a Tuesday night as I'm going there the next day. People have commented on how happy I am after I've been there. It has made me a happier and better person.

As well as the fun, Headway is a huge support- we can point people in the right direction if they need further help, we can advise, help with paperwork, organise meetings, attend appointments with people, chat and understand. If you need help, we can find a way of getting that help.

When I mention Headway, I talk about 'we', that's because I feel part of Headway, that's how we are made to feel and we can all help in our own little ways.

Headway for Medway cannot stop-we are too established, we have and continue to help so many people. I myself feel proud and happy to see the change in a lot of people compared to when they first attended. These are changes that can be clearly noticed and for the individual people- that is amazing for them and their recovery.

I walk away on a Wednesday feeling supported without even realising that I have been supported. The relaxed atmosphere, spending time with my family, the laughs and sometimes the tears is so special to me and If I need help, I've always got the help I need.

Headway is incredible.
I cant thank them enough for giving us this service in Medway, especially as there isn't anything even similar locally.

We all need to stay together and continue on this amazing journey together, keep helping and supporting each other and hopefully welcome lots of new people who need us. We've learnt that brain injury isn't the end, we can still achieve, we can still have a life, the injury doesn't have to define who we all are, we have problems but we can overcome.
We can do all of this together and we can do it as a family.