Headway Newry Opens

Northern Ireland’s second Centre for Headway, the Brain Injury Association, which supports brain injury survivors, their carers and families, was officially opened in Newry in premises at Abbey Yard on Monday 18th October.

At the same time Headway marked the appointment of its new staff team – Sheila Quinn, full time Development Officer and Majella Burns, part time Administrator.

Guests were welcomed at an official opening ceremony by the President of Headway Newry, Robert Newell and the Mayor of Newry, Councillor Mick Murphy, himself a Headway Newry member as he and his wife Carol care for their daughter, Moya.

The keynote speaker was Banjo Bannon, Newry’s most famous mountain climber. Frank Dolaghan, chair of Headway Newry, said “Brain injury survivors have to climb mountains every day and face challenges which are in many ways as daunting as those faced by Banjo. We hope Banjo will inspire our survivors to continue to aim high and to never accept defeat.”

The premises were officially opened by Miceal Crilly, Assistant Director of Disability Services at the Southern Health and Social Care Trust. The Trust recently awarded Headway Newry recurrent annual funding which this year amounts to just over £73,000.

The new centre is fully accessible and is spread over two floors to provide some 3,000 square feet of space. There are administrative offices, a training room, a conference room, a board room and several smaller meeting rooms including a suite of rooms which will be used by the Area Brain Injury Team.

There is also a fully equipped kitchen and penthouse suite which houses the Centre’s Drop In Club and a music room and provides two pool tables and other games.

From the centre, Headway Newry organises a very wide range of activities including yoga, art, crafts, water aerobics, Drop In Club, Tuesday Club, residential weekends and Big Nights Out for single brain injury survivors.

Headway Newry was launched in February 2008 and now has over 100 members including brain injury survivors, family members, carers and volunteers. Members are drawn from Newry and Mourne, Armagh, Dungannon, Banbridge and Dundalk. they employ a total of six staff and have over 20 volunteers. Headway Belfast is the only other Headway base in Northern Ireland to have premises and employ staff.