Write a commentLike many other charities the Brain Injury Foundation had to suspend operations at the end of March and with everyone working from home an imaginative series of online activities were quickly created with fitness workshops, pub quizzes and music sessions just some of the weekly offerings.
The Brain Injury Foundation serve brain injury survivors and their carers across the Southern Trust from their bases at Camlough and Milford.
BIF’s support team have all been working from home. Frank Dolaghan, chair of BIF, describes BID’s response to the Covid challenge.
“Brain injury survivors are among the most vulnerable people in our society and even without Covid, face huge daily struggles with everyday living. One of the main impacts of a brain injury is loneliness as survivors find friends move on and they themselves have issues with memory and communication which can make normal social interaction very difficult. Survivors also need a structure and routine to their lives. BIF provides a wide range of social activities to help address loneliness and when we had to suspend operations we knew we had to find some ways of maintaining our services. Our administrator, Olive Hawthorne, working with survivor Aine McKevitt and fund raiser Darryl Gallogly, have organised a series of daily activities through the new Zoom on line tool. These started six weeks ago and are attracting very good numbers of participants, both brain injury survivors and carers.”
Olive Hawthorne outlined the weekly programme: “On Monday evenings Darryl hosts a virtual pub quiz, on Tuesday mornings Sharon Carragher from Culloville hosts an online strength and balance workshop, on Wednesday mornings we have a keep fit with Music session facilitated by Marty O’Connor of Warrenpoint. Sharon Cole from Warrenpoint hosts a Pilates workshop on Thursday mornings, Sharon Carragher is back on Friday mornings with Keep Fit with country and finally, Frank and Aileen host an Open House for all comers on Friday nights. Feedback from our members has been excellent.”
In addition to the online programme BIF continues to operate a text messaging service and facebook page through Aine McKevitt while Olive has several Whats App groups in action. We continue to offer a totally confidential 24/7 telephone helpline operated by Aileen Dolaghan with support from Frank which includes regular check in calls to members as well as being constantly available.
All these supports are available to survivors and carers alike.
Frank explained that a big disappointment for members is the postponement of BIFs annual five day respite break which this year was planned for the end of June in Buncrana, County Donegal. As hotels in Ireland are not going to be open until late July or early August this trip has had to be postponed. With over 60 members travelling each year it is the highlight of our annual programme.
BIF members have also been keeping themselves busy. Carer Patricia Cadogan from Warrenpoint has made over 300 knitted attachments for face masks and these have been distributed to local health staff by Aine McKevitt. Dr John McCavitt, a survivor from Rostrevor is making pebble art products to raise funds for BIF while survivor Ryan Donaghy from Armagh has written his own song, The Journey, about his brain injury and has recorded several appearances to be shown on upcoming television shows.
Frank says “These few examples show the resilience and determination of our members and show that there can definitely be life after brain injury. Anyone interested in our work, which receives no public funding, is welcome to contact me at any time on 07740823713 or to visit our website, WWW.THEBRAININJURYFOUNDATION.COM
