GLASGOW-based brain injury charity Headway Clyde has launched its ‘lifesaving’ ID cards nationally, thanks to a donation from Irwin Mitchell Scotland LLP.
The serious injury specialist law firm donated a card printing machine to sponsor Headway Clyde’s production of uniquely personalised ABI (acquired brain injury) cards for individuals with brain injuries.
Headway Clyde is an independent Scottish charity and part of a UK-wide network of voluntary sector charities and groups supporting people with ABIs and their families.
This new national ABI ID card is a vital lifesaver for people with brain injuries, featuring the ways in which each person’s ABI affects them, personal details and the all-important emergency contact information.
This means that urgent help and assistance is more quickly and easily available. An Acquired Brain Injury can be caused by an event after birth such as stroke, brain haemorrhage, infection, or cancer, but the main causes in Scotland are due to falls, accidents and assault, accounting for 62% of the total number of ABIs.
Often, others can assume that someone affected by an ABI is drunk, aggressive or deliberately confusing matters – this new ABI ID Card provides that person with a means to prove that they are none of these things. This can make all the difference when using things like public transport and taxis or doing tasks like shopping.
Headway Clyde’s range of services cover Glasgow, the West and Central Scotland, covering a population of over 1.5 million people across nine local authorities and three NHS regions.
Now this hugely important, personalised ABI ID Card is being offered across Scotland.
For Bob Bogle, Chief Executive at Headway Clyde, the personalised cards are a ‘gamechanger’ and says they have been created and offered due to a very real and vocal demand for them from ABI-affected individuals and families.
Bob said: “Within just a few weeks of rolling out the cards in March, there have been situations where these cards have already been used and helped individuals. They’re a real gamechanger.
“At times, they can quite literally be lifesaving, and we cannot thank our long-standing partners at Irwin Mitchell enough for their wonderful support over the years. Thanks also to the family of life-long campaigner for ABI awareness, Irene Morrice, for her legacy which means we can continue to offer these cards completely free of charge.
“It takes just over £130,000 to run Headway Clyde per year and we really rely on donations and our corporate sponsors to continue this vital free service. We no longer receive any funding from the NHS or government, but are expected to provide lifelong essential community support for thousands of individuals and families. In Glasgow City, 70% of those people we support live in the 10% poorest areas, so we have to continue to offer all our services free of charge.
“We are now rolling these uniquely personalised ABI cards out across Scotland to ensure equal access to this vital resource for all individuals with acquired brain injuries all around the country. These really make a difference on the front line.”
Kim Leslie, Personal Injury Partner at Irwin Mitchell Scotland, added: “What I really like about this initiative is its simplicity. It responds to an everyday challenge faced by people living with a brain injury and gives them something practical that can make life a little easier.
“Knowing the cards are already helping people is fantastic, and Headway Clyde deserve huge credit for making the idea happen.
“We see how important organisations like Headway Clyde are to people and families across Scotland, so supporting their work feels both important and very worthwhile.”
Amy Gannon, Serious Injury Partner at Irwin Mitchell Scotland, added: “As specialists supporting people affected by brain injury, we know how important it is that individuals have practical tools which help them feel safer and better understood in everyday situations.
“These cards are a simple but powerful way of reducing misunderstanding and ensuring the right support can be accessed quickly when it is needed most.”
The charity canvassed opinions from those who have been using the card, and feedback was overwhelmingly positive. Cardholders felt it helped to challenge misconceptions; explain issues like poor balance, forgetfulness, slower reaction times or problems with memory to those who may not understand their condition; and the presence of emergency contact details on the cards provided additional reassurance.
One current ABI ID Card user, who asked to remain anonymous, said: “I’ve used the card a lot since I got it, and it has been so good. There have been occasions when I’ve fainted, and those who have come to my aid or helped me at the hospital have been able to phone my contact to alert them.
“It also helps prevent misunderstandings. When my mobility and balance are affected, people can often assume I’ve been drinking, but the card gives me confidence to know they won’t now jump to the wrong conclusion.”
Another said: “It helps my family and people I meet understand if I’m confused, anxious and not communicating in a relatable way.”
Every year, 20,000 people in Scotland will acquire a brain injury with over 400,000 individuals now living with an ABI across Scotland – 6% of the population.
If you or someone you know has an Acquired Brain Injury and would like one of these personalised ID cards then contact Headway Clyde directly on 0141 332 8878 or click on https://idcard.headwayclyde.org/ to access the confidential online application process.
