Looking for a Support Group near you? Join us at Headway Shropshire!
Ever want to just have a cuppa and talk about your story and your journey?
Come and join our Support Groups hosted by Lorna!
Meet Lorna Walker
“Talking is healing”
Lorna is a brain injury survivor who leads the Support Groups at Headway Shropshire. She serves as a shoulder to lean on and a guiding voice for our clients, believing in the crucial role of a community who understands you in your brain injury recovery.
Her experiences as a brain injury survivor fuel her and her drive to help others. After her own rehabilitation, she sought a way for survivors to come together regularly, support each other and share information on their own journeys, aids and access to interventions.
And so, the Support Groups were formed where brain injury survivors can listen to each other and understand each other’s similarities and differences in situations.
What do I do when I join the Support Groups?
You can just drop by at the venues near you, and you’ll find Lorna, other volunteers, and their warm hospitality. Then, just do what feels right!
Our Support Groups are at the core of Headway Shropshire’s holistic approach to brain injury recovery. Whether that’s participating in the activities or just listening to Lorna and the others talk, the Support Groups provide a safe environment that lets you take your time on where you are on your journey.
You get to meet people who have gone through similar situations and people whose journeys are vastly different all at different points of their journeys but walking to a common goal.
What are the benefits of a peer support group for brain injury survivors?
Outside the formal medical care and therapy for a survivor’s recovery, there is another factor that may be missed: peer support.
The NHS defines peer support as a supported self-management intervention where people with similar long-term conditions or health experiences come together to support each other.
In peer support, individuals can create relationships with a foundation of acceptance and understanding. These are significant interventions to the often-felt isolation or loneliness that brain injury survivors may experience.
Through acceptance and understanding from others, brain injury survivors are given more room to begin accepting and understanding their own disabilities. This broadens the way for them to take accountability for their actions and take the steps in their journey for health and wellbeing all while in a supportive environment that understands their needs.
Neuro Wellbeing Support Group can counter the idea of brain injuries as a “misunderstood disability” by forming groups and perhaps, eventually, a community that understands brain injuries and works to raise awareness in the community.
The numbers on how Neuro Wellbeing Support Groups help you in your recovery
Studies have shown how Neuro Wellbeing Support Groups are beneficial for people looking to bounce back from a challenge such as a brain injury and improve mental health.
See below:
- Support groups can improve quality of life, develop supportive and therapeutic relationships, and provide emotional support. [NHS England evidence review]
- It can support people with long-term conditions and contributes to wellbeing [Realising the Value (2016), At the heart of health: realising the value of people and communities]
- Peer support can aid mental health recovery, depression (particularly perinatal depression), and self-belief [2024 study published in BMC medicine]
How to join
Give Lorna a ring!
Contact details
- Tel: 01743 365271
- Email: hello@headwayshropshire.org.uk
Frequently Asked Questions
What are Headway Shropshire support groups?
The Neuro Wellbeing Support Group is a welcoming, informal space for anyone affected by brain injury.
It is somewhere you can come for advice, information and support, but just as importantly, somewhere you can feel heard, share experiences and spend time with people who understand because they have been through, or are going through, similar experiences themselves.
You can talk as much or as little as you like. Sometimes simply being around people who understand can make a real difference.
Who can come to the Neuro Wellbeing Support Group?
Anyone affected by brain injury is welcome. That includes people living with a brain injury, as well as family members, friends, carers and others close to them.
You do not need to be a Headway Shropshire client or receive any of our paid services to attend.
Does it matter how long ago the brain injury happened?
No. Whether the brain injury happened recently or many years ago, you are welcome.
People can face different challenges at different stages, and sometimes the need to talk, ask questions or connect with others comes much later.
Where and how often do the groups run?
The Neuro Wellbeing Support Group currently runs monthly in both Shrewsbury and Telford, with more groups and locations planned.
You can find the latest dates and venues on our website and across Headway Shropshire’s social media channels.
Find our support group dates here.
What time does the group run?
The Neuro Wellbeing Support Group runs from 10am until 2pm.
It is a drop-in group, so you do not need to arrive at 10am or stay until 2pm. Come whenever suits you and stay for as little or as long as you would like.
Do I have to be a Headway Shropshire client to attend?
No – come whenever you want. There’s no pressure to attend regularly, we’re here when you need us.
How much does it cost?
Nothing. The Neuro Wellbeing Support Group is completely free to attend.
If you are looking for support but are not sure whether you need one of Headway Shropshire’s paid services, the Neuro Wellbeing Support Group can also be a really good first way to meet us, ask questions and find out what other support may be available.
What happens at a group?
There is no formal programme you have to follow.
You can come for a chat, ask for advice, share what you are going through, listen to other people’s experiences or simply spend some time with people who understand.
The Neuro Wellbeing Support Group is about connection, understanding and practical support – whether you are living with a brain injury yourself or supporting someone who is.
Do I have to talk about my brain injury?
No. You can join in as much or as little as feels comfortable.
Some people want to talk and share their experiences; others prefer to listen, have a cup of tea and get to know people first. There is no pressure to share anything you do not want to.
Who runs the Neuro Wellbeing Support Group?
The groups are hosted by Lorna Walker, who has lived experience of brain injury herself. That lived experience helps create a space where people can feel understood, supported and comfortable talking openly about some of the realities of life after brain injury. You can read Lorna’s story here.
View Lorna’s Story
How do I join?
Just turn up – you do not need to book. If you would feel more comfortable speaking to someone first, you are very welcome to call Lorna before attending. She can tell you more about the group, answer any questions and help you know what to expect.
You can find the next dates, venues and Lorna’s contact details on the Neuro Wellbeing Support Group page.
Can my family member, friend or carer come with me?
Absolutely. The Neuro Wellbeing Support Group is for everyone affected by brain injury, not only the person who has sustained the injury.
Family members, friends and carers are very welcome to attend with the person they support or on their own. They may have their own questions, worries, experiences or need a space to talk openly and get support independently.
What if I need more support than the group can offer?
Come and talk to us. The Neuro Wellbeing Support Group may be the only support you need, or it can be a first step. Headway Shropshire also provides specialist services including the Headway Hub and ABICS – Acquired Brain Injury Community Support.
If you need more individual or structured support, we can talk through the options with you and help you work out what might be right.
Get support here.
Can’t see your question here?
Don’t worry – the team at Headway Shropshire are here to help!