A week-long campaign to challenge misconceptions around brain injury and invite survivors to share their experiences is beginning today (8 May). 

Organised by the brain injury association, Headway, Action for Brain Injury Week is being marked with the #ANewMe campaign, which is a platform for survivors and families to share their experiences following a brain injury.

“Thompsons is proud to represent those affected by traumatic brain injuries. By working closely with organisations such as Headway, we can ensure that survivors have both legal and emotional support as they get to grips with their often life-changing injuries.”

Paul Brown senior serious injury solicitor at Thompsons Solicitors

The campaign aims to encourage people to share creative examples of how a brain injury has made ‘A New Me’, be it through paintings, poems, podcasts or photographs. Entries can be submitted directly to the charity or shared via social media, and many will be showcased at events across the UK during the week. 

As part of the campaign, ex-journalist and brain injury survivor Will Perringwood is touring the UK with his wife to interview other survivors, and their families, about how their conditions have changed their lives and what ‘A New Me’ means to them. There will also be blogs, commentary pieces and features from survivors. 

According to Headway, someone in the UK is admitted to hospital with a brain injury every 90 seconds, accounting for nearly 350,000 admissions in 2013-14 alone. Thompsons Solicitors has worked closely with the charity for many years to support survivors during their rehabilitation and offer legal guidance when making a compensation claim. 

Paul Brown, a senior serious injury solicitor at Thompsons and member of Headway Wearside, said: “Brain injuries can affect survivors in a multitude of ways, and while physical changes are often noticeable, psychological changes aren’t. This can leave survivors and their families feeling like they are misunderstood and even suffering in silence, so any campaign to try and tackle this issue can only be helpful. 

“Positive social events, like those taking place this week, give people affected by brain injury the opportunity to discuss their difficulties - a key aspect of any survivors’ rehabilitation. 

“Thompsons is proud to represent those affected by traumatic brain injuries. By working closely with organisations such as Headway, we can ensure that survivors have both legal and emotional support as they get to grips with their often life-changing injuries.”