Northampton solicitors help fund day centre for brain injured

Local law firm Shoosmiths LLP, founded in Northampton and established for over 165 years, has donated £1,101.54 raised from ‘dress down mufti days’ to support Headway Northampton.

Although Headway is a UK-wide charity that works to improve life after brain injury, local groups and branches such as Headway Northampton operate largely autonomously and have to fund their own support services locally and directly.

One such resource is Headway Northampton’s day centre in Heathfield Way, Kings Heath, Northampton, NN5 7QP, which provides community based services for brain injured adults, as well as supporting their families and carers. The centre offers people with a serious brain injury the opportunity to function in a very user friendly environment, something which is priceless to those who are no longer able to attend to themselves in their own home.

Brain injury is often called the ‘hidden disability’ because it’s not immediately obvious that there is anything wrong with the person.  It may be for that reason that Headway Northampton must constantly appeal for funding – the charity has faced significant pressure since the loss of its grant funding in 2016/2017.

Commenting on the donation, Chris McKinney, a partner in Shoosmiths specialising in serious personal injury cases including brain and spinal cord injuries said:

"Perhaps brain injury does not pull at the heart or loosen the purse strings as much as other more obvious physical or psychological afflictions, but its effects can be devastating for an individual and their family.  We know from experience how important the work of Headway Northampton is to those who suffer any form of serious brain injury and are delighted to be able to help them keep that essential service going."

Margot Basketfield, manager of Headway Northampton said: