Suffolk brain injury charity secures vital sports funding lifeline
Headway Suffolk has been awarded £2,000 from Flutter UKI’s Cash4Clubs scheme
A Suffolk charity has received a funding boost that will help people with brain injuries rebuild their lives through sport.
Headway Suffolk has been awarded £2,000 from Flutter UKI’s Cash4Clubs scheme, which supports grassroots organisations across the country. The money has gone towards new sporting equipment, allowing the charity to launch sessions in walking hockey, walking football, rugby, basketball, tennis and Nordic walking.
Helen Fairweather, Chief Executive of Headway Suffolk, said:
“Every one of our clients has experienced a life-changing event such as a stroke, brain disease or serious injury, and keeping the brain stimulated through physical activity is vital to their recovery. The funding has allowed us to introduce new sports, both in our neuro hubs and out in the community, with the right equipment and trained staff to ensure it’s done safely.”
Helen explained that exercise isn’t just about recovery, it transforms people’s lives:
“We see the difference it makes straight away. People come to us low in confidence, maybe after a stroke or serious injury, and through sport they rebuild strength, regain independence and start to enjoy life again. It helps with motivation, mental health, and even basic things like balance and coordination; it’s a massive boost.”
Headway currently supports around 250 people a week, from those coming into its hubs to individuals receiving care at home. Helen said that variety is key:
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“We have a menu of services that people can access to help them rebuild their lives. That support could be half an hour a week or 24/7 – and we are currently rated outstanding by the CQC. It’s about making sure those resources are there so that if brain injury, stroke, dementia or neurological conditions affect you or a loved one, there is somewhere to go for help.”
But she also warned about the importance of sustainable funding:
“We are really, really grateful for Cash4Clubs and all the trusts that support us, but we do need other support as well. Once resources go, they won’t come back again, and these services are vital for people in Suffolk.”
The support comes at a time when research from Flutter UKI shows almost half of grassroots organisations are cancelling services because of rising costs, with one in five fearing closure within a year.