IT takes only a minute for your life to be changed completely by a head injury.

For Stuart Wright, it was as he made his way to work on his motorbike from his home in Uptonupon- Severn in July 2008.

In a split second, a serious road accident transformed his life as he knew it.

What followed was three months in a Birmingham hospital, followed by 13 months in a rehabilitation unit in Warwickshire.

But, once the initial recovery period is complete, what happens to people like Mr Wright who may no longer need hospital treatment but have forgotten how to do the everyday things which most of us take for granted?

For Mr Wright, that is the moment Headway Worcester Trust stepped in and offered him a chance to start rebuilding his life.

Mr Wright, aged 37, now lives in a specially adapted bungalow run by Headway.

“Things could have been worse – I could have died,” said Mr Wright, who has very little memory of the accident or being in hospital.

“I do remember two people coming to see me to ask if I wanted to live at the bungalow. I am so glad they did as this place is amazing. I am so lucky.”

Mr Wright needs support to help him as he continues to recover and readjust to his drastically different life.

Staff at the house have helped him not only manage his medication and money, but also retaught him how to do his laundry and cook meals, among other things.

At the moment, the focus is on learning how to catch the bus so Mr Wright can get to visit his family and friends in Upton, as well as get into town by himself.

It would give Mr Wright a huge amount of freedom and independence and this, explained Headway’s director Alan Purchon, is exactly what the association aims to do.

“We help them to do it themselves,” he said.

“Headway is support to enable people with head injuries to live their lives as independently as possible.”

Headway currently has about 150 people in south Worcestershire alone which it supports, a surprisingly high amount considering most will say they haven’t come across anyone with a long term head injury.

Mr Purchon is used to this: “It’s very often known as the invisible disability. It doesn’t often have signs of physical disability. Our clients look quite normal.

“But it affects their functioning and people do not see that.”

Suffering an “invisible” disability can be frustrating for Headway’s clients, who can find it hard to communicate.

It can be a lonely life for some and, for Simon Harrison, the discovery of Headway can make all the difference to their lives.

Mr Harrison suffered severe health problems at birth, and epilepsy left him brain damaged with his parents taking the role of his full-time carers.

“I became very isolated and very lonely,” he said.

It was only in his mid-30s that Mr Harrison’s sister suggested he make contact with a social worker – who directed him to Headway.

The difference in the case of Mr Harrison, now aged 38, is quite literally visible.

“Headway helped me to join the gym in Droitwich and Weight Watchers,” said Mr Harrison, who lives in Worcester.

“Within 18 months, I dropped from 28.5 stone down to 19 stone.

“From this huge weight loss I gained confidence I never thought I would have. I felt ready to attempt to live independently for the first time in my life.”

Headway Worcester also give its clients a chance for social rehabilitation at their day centre, which centres around a brightlycoloured and welcoming room where people can gather for the day.

Across the yard, there is a woodwork workshop where clients can learn what can be a completely new skill – a huge boost to their confidence.

Paul Gammon’s brain was starved of oxygen during birth, causing epilepsy and leaving him with poor short term memory and hand-to-eye coordination.

Now, aged 54, he is learning both practical and personal skills at Headway’s day centre that are helping to enhance his life in all areas.

“With the confidence I have gained I have made new friends,”

he said.

“Because of the activities, practical and recreational, my coordination is much better and I feel as if I want to move on to do other things.”

Mr Purchon is clearly proud of the success stories he, his staff and the team of volunteers can claim – but he knows there are more people out there who could benefit from the kind of support Headway Worcester can provide.

“It’s important for people to know the service is out there,” he said.

􀁥 People interested in volunteering or who know someone with an acquired brain injury who could benefit from Headway’s services can visit headwayworcestertrust.

com or call 01905 729729.

CHARITY MATCH

THIS week is Action for Brain Injury week. Headway Worcester will be holding a charity football match on Saturday at Tudor Grange Playing Field, Bilford Road, with kick off at noon to raise money and awareness.