Who Can Attend

Who can attend the Head Forward Centre

The number of attendees at the Centre each day is limited to a maximum of twelve.  Preference is given to applicants between the ages of 18 to 60 years who have sustained TBI within the previous seven to ten years and are now medically stable. However, we always give consideration to individual cases.

Because the Head Forward Centre is a voluntary social rehabilitation resource – rather than a clinical unit or Social Services facility – it is not appropriate for:

• those with a progressive neurological condition;
• those unable to toilet themselves (unless accompanied by a carer or support worker);
• those unable to communicate in English unless accompanied by a carer or interpreter;
• those who are currently under Court Order;
• those on Alcohol or Drug withdrawal programmes.

We also reserve the right to exclude people with significant behavioural problems which may disrupt the Centre’s activities.

Attendees can be referred to the Head Forward Centre by their GP, Social Worker, Case Manager or family member.  The current charge is £30 per day.

The Head Forward Centre activity programme is theoretically based on a non-interventional model. In other words this means that the staff and volunteers at the Head Forward Centre do not have as their primary objective the elimination or reduction of the attendee’s underlying neurological, functional or cognitive impairments. Unlike specialised brain injury rehabilitation programmes with hierarchically organised retraining and time-limited programmes, which involve a high level of professional input, we aim to provide a range of recreational activities that are stimulating - but can be taken at the individual’s own pace and are more in keeping with everyday life. After an initial interview and assessment period of two to three sessions at the Centre, if it is mutually agreed that the Head Forward Centre facilities are appropriate to his or her needs, the applicant may become an attendee.