Charity and Community

Since re-opening after the pandemic, Headway Nottingham is at risk of closing down. The fantastic charity supports individuals who have sustained a brain injury and is also full of volunteers who have sustained a brain injury.

Our fantastic Divisional Director, Andi Williams (CMgr FCMI), is taking on the challenge of 9 hours of High-intensity Interval Training (HITT) at two local gyms to raise money for Headway Nottingham.

With a target of £1000, Andi’s JustGiving page can be found here.

Below, Andi talks about this fundraiser.

The Fundraiser

I’ll be completing an upcoming fundraising event that holds immense significance for the local community and myself personally. Headway Nottingham, a vital organisation providing support and rehabilitation for brain injury survivors, is at risk of closing its doors due to financial challenges. In response, we are rallying together to raise funds and ensure the continuation of their invaluable services.
Headway Nottingham has been a beacon of hope for individuals and families affected by brain injuries. They offer various services that empower survivors to rebuild their lives, including therapy, counselling, educational programs, and social initiatives. Their dedicated team has made a tangible difference in countless lives, fostering recovery, and promoting independence. Unfortunately, the financial strain caused by recent circumstances threatens to shut down this remarkable organisation.

Andi’s Personal Connection

On my 18th birthday, I went away with friends to Torquay. During this break a freak accident occurred which resulted in me ending up in a coma. I remained in a hospital in Hereford for some time, after having emergency surgery to remove a bleed on the brain. After this, I was transferred to Dudley Road in Birmingham and eventually discharged to a Headway service in Longbridge. Headway supported me during my rehabilitation and helped me recover from what was a serious accident, so Headway holds a special place for me.

That is part of the reason I enjoy working at Empowering U. We provide support and care to people who have suffered catastrophic injuries, ABI, and head injuries through our case management and our care delivery.

The Fundraising Plan

I’m gearing up for a mega-challenge that will require a lot of stamina. I’ll be completing HIIT classes at Orangetheory Fitness Nottingham & Derby.

9 hours of training and burning through around 6000 calories! (Just to give you an idea, that’s nearly double what I burned running an ultra-marathon on 26th November 2023!)

We’re also hosting a bake sale at our office in Pride Park, Derby. Shannon, our tremendous baker, will be creating some amazing cakes for the event and all the money we raise is going towards the fundraising target of £1000.

Our East Midlands, Lincolnshire & Yorkshire branch’s Head of Operations, Andrew Williams, is taking on a ultra-marathon around Shipley Country Park, Derbyshire on 26th November to raise money for BBC Children in Need. Andi has set up a Just Giving page with a target of £500. 

Out of work, Andi can be found pushing himself in aid of others. 10 years ago, he ran in the London Marathon for Mencap, and he jumped 3,500 feet from the ground doing a Static Line Parachute Jump.  

“I wouldn’t class myself as an adrenaline junkie” mentions Andi. “Ever since I have read Can’t Hurt Me and Never Finished by David Goggins, I’ve wanted to push and to find out more about myself. I’m always in the gym and enjoy HIIT sessions, recently I’ve started doing 10k on the treadmills to get ready for the 50k around Shipley Park.” 

Andi not only limits himself to running marathons and jumping out of planes, but he’s also found UWCB (Ultra White-Collar Boxing) raising money for Cancer Research UK, Wolf Run Autumn and Winter for Birmingham Children’s Hospital and Special Care Baby Units, Foremarke Hall Triathlon as well as Tough Mudder. 

We all wish Andi huge congratulations for what he’s achieved as well as luck for the 50k ultra-marathon for BBC Children in Need! 

You can visit Andi’s Just Giving Page: https://www.justgiving.com/page/andrew-williams-070581 

We are pleased to announce that Empowering U are now proud supporters of IRCM (Institute of Registered Case Managers). The IRCM is a not-for-profit organisation whose role will be to safeguard the users of case management services:

• Through setting standards for the case manager practice
• Through publishing a public register of people who meet requirements and commit to practising in line with IRCM standards
• Through providing a process through which concerns can be reported, and then investigating and taking action where registered case managers do not meet IRCM standards

Currently in the set-up phase, we look forward to seeing the IRCM become an accredited body and allowing our case managers to become IRCM accredited.

Empowering U Director and Head of Services, Nicola Protheroe-Jones, has been re-appointed as a Governor of Black Country NHS Foundation Trust. Nicola has already completed a 3-year stint in the role, and this further 3-year tenure is a testament to the positive impact that she has had.

Nicola brings to the role over 30 years’ nursing experience, as well as the expertise and experience gained as a Director of Empowering U.

“As a Governor, I’m involved in a multitude of activities as part of my role. Whilst attendance at Board Meetings is a key part of it, I’m also involved in monitoring aspects of patient care, which includes spot checks on wards and monitoring processes to ensure positive patient progress and outcomes” explains Nicola.

“It’s important that I adopt a hands-on approach to the role, which can (if required) involve challenging and holding to account Trust executives.”

Most recently, Nicola met with Amanda Pritchard, Chief Executive and Tom Cahill, National Director for Learning Disability and Autism at NHS England to discuss the unique work done by Empowering U’s emergency response team which handles crisis situations involving patients with learning disabilities and autism, thereby reducing hospital admissions. This programme is unique in the UK, and 4 other UK Trusts are keen to learn more from Nicola about this service and how they can adopt a similar approach.