On 10 June we were delighted to hold the 2026 Headway Bristol AGM in our new building. Read the latest news about how the charity is performing, and what direction we’re taking.
Our guest of honour was the new building itself! We took over the lease of Woodside just a few short months ago, and since then it’s been a hive of activity in preparation for hosting the whole Headway Bristol family. And it didn’t disappoint: there was a real sense of homecoming, as Mari Holcombe (CEO) and Huw Ponting (Chair of Trustees) welcomed us. There was the opportunity to tour the premises and see our new home’s potential.
“We want our members, service users, families, volunteers, supporters and professionals working within brain injury to help shape what happens here … We want to create a welcoming place … where nobody affected by brain injury feels isolated or alone”
Read Huw’s full speech
On behalf of myself Mari and the board of trustees I’d like to say we are incredibly proud of what has been achieved over the past year.
Despite the challenges faced by charities across the country, Headway Bristol has continued to grow, evolve and provide life-changing support to people affected by brain injury.
Every day we see individuals rebuilding confidence, regaining independence, reconnecting with their communities and discovering new possibilities for the future.
None of this happens by accident. It happens because of the dedication of our staff team, the commitment of our volunteers, the generosity of our supporters and funders, the guidance of our trustees, and the courage and determination of the people who use our services.
Tonight is not just about looking back on the past year. It is also about looking forward. Over the coming months we want to hear directly from you about what you would like to see from this building and how you would like it to develop. This is not simply Headway Bristol’s building it is a building for our community.
We want our members, service users, families, volunteers, supporters and professionals working within brain injury to help shape what happens here.
Part of the building will be developed into a sanctuary and information centre for anyone affected by brain injury and for those working within the sector.
We want to create a welcoming place where people can access information, guidance, support and connection. A place where nobody affected by brain injury feels isolated or alone.
This evening we will also hear from some of the incredible people who support our charity.
Some support us today, whilst others have supported us for many years. It is important that, whilst we continue to grow and adapt, we never forget the people who have helped us along the way. Our community is what makes Headway Bristol special. It is the people.
As we begin this exciting new chapter, we do so with gratitude for everyone who has helped us reach this point and with optimism for everything that lies ahead.
As we move into the coming year, our focus will be on successfully opening and developing this building, expanding opportunities for support, strengthening our services and creating our sanctuary and information centre.
Over the coming months, we want to work alongside our members, service users, families, volunteers and partners to shape this space and ensure it meets the needs of the brain injury community.
Together, we will continue working towards our vision of improving life after brain injury and ensuring that nobody has to face the challenges of brain injury alone.
Vision for the coming year
Tina Slade, Operations Manager
“… we hope to broaden our offer by introducing initiatives such as a young adults group, extending support to individuals with a wider range of complex conditions and exploring the possibility of offering support during more flexible and unsociable hours.”
Read Tina’s full speech
As many of you will be aware, Headway Bristol had to leave our previous premises based at Frenchay in September 2024.
While this was a challenging period for the organisation, our priority remained ensuring that our clients continued to receive the support they needed.
To achieve this, we adapted our service delivery model and operated from hubs based at Greenway, Wellspring, and Brightwell. Although this approach enabled us to maintain our services, it also created a sense of separation between both our clients and our team. In addition, it limited our ability to expand, develop new projects, and introduce the innovative services that we believe could further benefit those we support.
Today, we are excited about the opportunities that our new building and location will bring. We believe this move will enable us to strengthen our presence within the wider community, develop new partnerships, and create a more diverse and inclusive environment for those who access our services.
Looking ahead, we hope to broaden our offer by introducing initiatives such as a young adults group, extending support to individuals with a wider range of complex conditions, and providing a drop-in service for those who may simply need advice, guidance, or signposting. We are also exploring the possibility of offering support during more flexible and unsociable hours, ensuring our services are accessible and convenient for those who may benefit from additional social opportunities or require support outside traditional times.
Most importantly, we remain committed to listening to the people who matter most—our clients, families, volunteers, and supporters. We welcome new ideas and suggestions, as they play a vital role in shaping the future of Headway Bristol. Our ambition is to continually improve and evolve our services, while creating exciting fundraising opportunities that help us grow and reach even more people in need.
Together, we can build a stronger, more connected, and more ambitious future for Headway Bristol. Thank you for your continued support, commitment, and belief in what we do.
Carers Service Update
Lindsey Forbes, Carers and Support Manager
“… when someone leaves hospital, they should never feel alone or unsure about what happens next …”
Read Lindsey’s full speech
I’d like to take a few minutes to tell you about our carers service, what we’ve achieved over the last year and where we’re heading next.
Supporting families affected by brain injury remains at the heart of everything we do. Brain injury doesn’t just affect the individual; it impacts entire families, often leaving people frightened, overwhelmed and unsure where to turn.
Over the past year we have continued to build on our work within local hospitals through our honorary contracts. These contracts give our team secure access to relevant hospital patient information systems, allowing us to identify people affected by brain injury at the earliest possible stage.
This has transformed the way we work. Rather than relying on referrals alone, we have moved to a proactive identification model, enabling us to reach patients and families who may otherwise never have found us. It allows us to make contact earlier, offer support sooner, and help ensure that nobody slips through the gaps.
Early intervention is incredibly important. Families are often trying to process life-changing news, understand complex medical information and prepare for an uncertain future. By reaching people earlier, we can provide emotional support, practical guidance and information when it is needed most.
I’m also delighted to say that we have secured funding to continue developing this service. This funding will enable us to offer specialist welfare benefits advice and support, helping families access the financial assistance they are entitled to at a time when many are experiencing significant changes to their lives and income.
Looking ahead, our next major project is the development of a Bristol Brain Injury Information and Support Guide. This guide will be available through local hospitals and will provide patients and families with everything they need in one place – information about brain injury, rehabilitation services, benefits, carers support, local organisations and where to go for help.
The aim is simple: when someone leaves hospital, they should never feel alone or unsure about what happens next. To help make the guide sustainable, we are exploring opportunities for sponsorship and advertising, allowing local organisations and businesses to support its production while ensuring it remains free for the people who need it.
As we look ahead to the future of our carers service, it’s also important that we take a moment to reflect on the people who have helped us get to where we are today.
I’d also like to take a moment to recognise some of the carers and family members who are with us this evening.
Some of you have loved ones whose lives were forever changed by brain injury, and despite facing incredibly difficult circumstances, you have gone on to raise awareness and fundraise for Headway Bristol in the most selfless and inspiring ways.
We would like to give a special mention to Ed, Lyn, Louise and Kerry Morrison, who lost their brother, son and uncle, Scott, in 2011 following a brain injury. The fundraising they undertook for Headway Bristol was extraordinary and played a significant part in helping us develop and pilot services that would otherwise not have been possible. We will always be grateful for everything they did, and Scott’s legacy continues to live on through the people we support today.
We would also like to recognise Mark Brimson, who dedicated years of his time to raising awareness and vital funds in memory of his late wife, Glo. Mark’s commitment to Headway Bristol has been incredible, and Glo’s legacy continues to live on within our organisation.
The reason I wanted to mention them today is because, while we may have moved from the building that was such a familiar part of many people’s journeys with Headway Bristol, we haven’t left those memories, stories and connections behind. We carry them with us.
Buildings change, but the people, experiences and legacies that helped shape Headway Bristol remain a huge part of who we are. To all of our carers, families, supporters and fundraisers, thank you. We want you to know how much your support has meant to us over the years and how grateful we are to be taking those memories and legacies with us into this next chapter.
As we begin this new chapter at Woodside, it feels especially important to acknowledge that we do so standing on the shoulders of the families, supporters and fundraisers who helped shape Headway Bristol over many years. Their stories, generosity and commitment remain part of who we are.
As we move into the next year, our focus remains on reaching more families, reaching them earlier, and ensuring that every person affected by brain injury has access to the information, support and reassurance they deserve.
I’d like to thank our staff, volunteers, trustees, hospital partners and funders for making this work possible. Most importantly, I’d like to thank the carers and families we support every day. Your resilience, determination and strength continue to inspire us and remind us why this service is so important.
Update on volunteers
Sharon Withey, Volunteer Coordinator
“… We work with people from all walks of life, all with different experiences, personalities, skills, and stories — and that individuality brings so much value to the organisation …”
Read Sharon’s full speech
For those who may not know us, I’m Sharon and my colleague Millie and I have been the Volunteer Coordinators for around 9 months now — and we’ve both loved every minute of it so far.
When we first took on the role, I don’t think either of us realised just how rewarding it would be sharing it together. Being able to support one another, learn together, and grow into the role as a team has made the experience even more rewarding. But the biggest part of the role — and the best part — has been getting to know all our wonderful volunteers. It’s genuinely been such a pleasure. Every single volunteer brings something different to Headway, and that’s what makes this place so special. We work with people from all walks of life, all with different experiences, personalities, skills, and stories — and that individuality brings so much value to the organisation. It’s something we truly appreciate and never take for granted.
Over the last few months, we’ve also seen a lot of positive change and development. We’ve recruited 13 new volunteers during this time. We are updating policies as we speak and introducing changes to recruitment that will help shape and strengthen volunteering even further for Headway moving forward. It’s exciting to see Headway continuing to evolve and improve while keeping volunteers at the heart of everything it does and we are all very excited about our move to this amazing new building and growing links in our new community.
And that’s something important to remember — Headway began as a volunteer-led organisation. Volunteers were the foundation of how it all started, which really shows just how vital volunteers have always been, and still are today. The time, care, and energy our volunteers all give makes an enormous difference, and the organisation simply wouldn’t be what it is without you.
So, before we finish, we’d like to say a huge thank you to every one of our volunteers past and present for everything you do.
And now, I’ll hand over to Alex, who is going to share with your all a little of his Headway journey.
A volunteer’s perspective
Alex, Headway Bristol volunteer
“… learning from other people’s experiences and sharing our own.”
Read Alex’s full speech
Hi all, some of you may know me: I’m Alex and I volunteer at the Headway group on a Monday. I’ve been a part of the group since December and thoroughly enjoy it!
I decided to join Headway after I moved down to Bristol after my degree finished and wanted to get involved in supporting people, something that was hard to do during studying.
I’ve found it really rewarding, having the opportunity to meet the service users is honestly the best part of becoming a volunteer. Its a rewarding role that makes the start of my week fun and different.
I get to try and do new things every week (for better or for worse!) and that pushes me, whether it’s speaking publicly, like this, or leading fun games, talks and quizzes.
A typical day for me includes playing, and learning more about chess. I’m getting there with Scrabble, which tends to get rather competitive. And the amount of quizzes we do has prepared me for any future pub quiz night!
It’s been great getting to know the other Monday volunteers, including Gary, Stan, Dean and Erica, along with meeting some of the other volunteers from the other groups: at the lovely games evening that Millie set up for all the volunteers.
Its been so nice getting to know everyone, learning from other people’s experiences and sharing our own.
A student placement perspective
Bek, Headway Bristol student placement
“… Headway has become much more than just a placement for me. It has been a place where I have felt valued, supported, and encouraged to grow …”
Read Bek’s full speech
Good afternoon, everyone. I just wanted to take a few minutes to say thank you and reflect on my time here at Headway.
When I first joined, I started as a volunteer. Like many people, I came in hoping to help people, gain experience, but I also had a goal in mind: I really wanted to complete my university placement here. At the time, I was told that Headway didn’t offer placements, which was obviously disappointing. But I enjoyed being here so much that it didn’t matter and I just stayed on.
Over those first few months, I tried my best to work hard, get involved and support the team wherever I could. Then, to my surprise, I was offered the opportunity to do my placement here. It was something I had hoped for from the beginning, so it meant a lot to me.
This year, I have spent two days every week at Headway, and it has been one of the most rewarding experiences of my journey. I’ve learned so much, not only professionally but personally as well.
What has made this experience so special is the people. The staff have been incredibly supportive, welcoming, and always willing to share their knowledge and guidance. The volunteers have been fantastic to work alongside and have made every day enjoyable. And of course, the service users have been absolutely amazing. Getting to know so many of you, hearing your stories, and sharing laughs and conversations has been a real privilege.
Headway has become much more than just a placement for me. It has been a place where I have felt valued, supported, and encouraged to grow. The kindness and sense of community here is something that I will always remember.
As my placement comes to an end, I am genuinely going to miss everyone. While I’m excited for whatever comes next, leaving here won’t be easy because this place and the people in it have had such a positive impact on me.
So, from the bottom of my heart, thank you to everyone who has been part of my journey here. Thank you for your support, your patience, your encouragement, and for making my time at Headway so memorable. I will miss you all, and I hope our paths cross again in the future. Thank you!
“… During Volunteer’s Week, we invited volunteers and service users to help us create something new — a small symbol that represents the heart of Headway Bristol …”
Read Millie’s full speech
I just want to say how proud we are of all our volunteers. Everything you’ve heard reflects what we see every single week: kindness, creativity, and people giving their time to make someone’s day better.
This year we wanted to celebrate that spirit properly. So during Volunteer’s Week, we invited volunteers and service users to help us create something new — a small symbol that represents the heart of Headway Bristol. It’s handmade, it’s colourful, and it reflects the creativity of the people who make this place what it is.
So … I’m really excited to reveal our new Volunteer’s rebranding
This symbol will be given to every new volunteer as part of their welcome, as a small badge and it represents the shared legacy of everyone who’s been part of Headway Bristol. Thank you for everything you do.
This page will be updated to include a word version of the full minutes once they are available.
