Brain Injury Foundation re-open their Biffers social space

Yesterday 19 May was a proud day for the Brain Injury Foundation in Camlough when they hosted an event to celebrate the reopening of Biffers, their refurbished social space.

The Brain Injury Foundation is a support group for brain injury survivors and their families and carers. It was launched by a group of survivors, carers and volunteers in August 2012 and has over 70 members from all over Newry and Mourne, Armagh, Banbridge and Dungannon. The organisation supports people with all forms of brain injuries including strokes.

Biffers provides a welcoming space for people living with brain injury, as well as carers, families, and members of the local community. The reopening marked the completion of refurbishment works supported through The Sustainable Community Buildings Programme through The National Lottery and Screwfix and The Clothworkers Foundation.

BIF differs from many charities in that it is service user led. This means that service users are all members and have a vote in guiding the organisation. Almost all of the Management Committee are brain injury survivors or carers.

Speaking at the event Brain Injury Foundation, Chairperson Christine Davidson welcomed Paul Sweeney from the National Lottery, representatives from Screwfix, the Deputy Chairperson of Newry, Mourne and Down District Council, Geraldine Kearns and members, carers, families, funders, contractors, supporters and friends to the special occasion.

Davidson said: Today is not simply about celebrating improvements to a building. It is about recognising what this place means to so many people. For many of our brain injury survivors and carers, The Brain Injury Foundation is a lifeline, a place of friendship, support, understanding and belonging.

"We are incredibly proud to stand here today and see the transformation that has taken place across our facilities. These improvements will have a lasting impact, helping us provide a warmer, safer, more welcoming and sustainable environment for everyone who uses our services."

The Chairperson thanked everyone who contributed to the remarkable project. "To our funders, contractors, staff, volunteers, members and supporters.  Your belief in The Brain Injury Foundation and in the people we support has made all of this possible."

She concluded: "Every improvement made within these walls strengthens our ability to continue supporting brain injury survivors and carers for many years to come. It ensures that this centre remains a place of hope, connection and opportunity for all who enter it."

Paul Sweeney, Chair, NI Committee, National Lottery Community Fund spoke of the warmth and joy he felt when he entered the building yesterday. "it's the warmth and just a sense of pride and joy, as a stranger I felt the minute I walked into the room."

Explaining the help the Lottery provided in terms of their Sustainable Community Buildings Project he said "In recent years, we have had a theme about helping community projects to do their bit, to do practical things in terms of how you respond to the big challenges of climate change. Well, you try and do something at the local level, and this is what you do. We were able to support you specifically in terms of solar panels, LED lights, insulation, and heating control, and in a way, if every project and every community was doing a little practical step, then all these things help towards the bigger challenges."

Acknowledging the work of Frank Dolaghan, founder of the Brain Injury Foundation, Sweeney added:  "I want to pay tribute to Frank if I can today, because if we go right back to the 1980s the 1990s, these were very, very dark, challenging times in terms of the economy, and youth unemployment was just going through the roof, and that most precious of all commodities, hope, was in short supply. Wondering, what can we do to make a contribution towards economic development, and Frank became one of those community leaders that said, listen, you can't abandon hope. You have to believe that working together we can move things forward. And what Frank has achieved, not only just in this area over the years, but I know he's also been a pathfinder, a leader, and gave an example to other communities in other parts."

Brain Injury Foundation Manager Olive Hawthorne said:  “On behalf of our Management Committee, staff members and supporters of The Brain Injury Foundation, I would like to start by taking this opportunity to sincerely thank our funders The National Lottery and their Sustainable Community Building grant and for their incredible support throughout this project, and providing the lion share of the funding in this project.  Without this funding this project would not have been possible.

"We would also like to extend our heartfelt thanks to the Screwfix Foundation and The Clothworkers Foundation for supporting the wider refurbishment of our centre. This funding enabled us to repaint and refresh both our “Pub with no Beer” thanks to Jeremy O’Brien and our Centre of Excellence, thank you to Adrian Cloughan. Thank you to everyone who sourced picture frames especially Heather and Aileen who had Frank on a mission around the countryside looking for frames, to Micheal Canavan for framing the pictures, Raymond for hanging the frames under the guidance of Orlagh, helping to create bright, welcoming and therapeutic spaces that promotes dignity, comfort and wellbeing for everyone who walks through our doors."

BIF user Pearse Rafferty also spoke. He said: "I'm a proud member of the BIF pool team, the best player though some might disagree. The weekly pool practice brings great structure to my week and when we win a match it's a great bonus, especially when I beat Tony. Our pub looks great after our recent refurbishment and has a warm and homely feeling to it. Thank you everyone who has helped in any way with this."

The Contractors who took part in the project were recalled on the day, including Stevie Hudson of Absolute Windows; Seamus Matthews, Jeremy O’Brien, Solar Fix and Home Seal.  

Olive Hawthorne noted: "These improvements are already making a significant difference. They are helping us reduce heat loss, lower energy consumption and create a warmer, more comfortable and environmentally responsible space for the brain injury survivors, carers and families who use our services every week."

She continued "At a time when energy costs continue to rise and charities face increasing financial pressures, these sustainability measures are not only protecting our buildings they, are protecting our services. Every pound saved through reduced utility and maintenance costs can now be redirected back into frontline support, wellbeing activities, respite opportunities and community programmes for the people we support."

In conclusion Hawthorne said: "Together, your support is helping us build not only a better building, but a brighter future for those living with the effects of brain injury.”

Check out the services offered by BIF at thebraininjuryfoundation.com