Shaped by lived experience, their work is grounded in a deep understanding of the lifelong and often hidden challenges people face after an ABI — including social isolation, discrimination, loss of confidence, and chronic physical, emotional, and cognitive difficulties.
Their mission is to empower adults with ABI, along with their families and carers, to thrive and live fully, inclusively, and with dignity. HIS achieves this by delivering specially designed long-term support that combines therapeutic and creative activities with sustained opportunities for social connection and peer support. This approach helps adults with ABI and their carers rebuild confidence, regain independence, and reconnect with their communities.
Supporting Adults with ABI and Their Families
Head Injury Support delivers a wide range of inclusive, community-based services designed to meet people where they are and respond to individual needs.
Day-based activities and skill-building programmes run four days per week at the Newry hub, with weekly outreach classes in Armagh and Craigavon. These sessions combine life-skills training, arts and music therapy, and participation in HIS’s social enterprise — helping participants develop confidence, purpose, and a sense of achievement.
Peer support and social connection are central to HIS’s approach, with drop-ins, social nights, outreach activities, and sustained opportunities that reduce isolation and strengthen community ties.
Wellbeing and mental health are supported through inclusive physical activities, targeted mental health projects, health literacy and self-management initiatives, listening support, and annual respite breaks.
HIS also provides guidance, advice, and advocacy, offering practical support to help people make informed decisions, access services, and participate fully in community life — including transport where needed.
Creativity and lived experience play an important role, with podcasts, creative projects, and co-designed services helping to reduce stigma and amplify participants’ voices. Dedicated support for carers includes respite, peer groups, and social opportunities to help maintain wellbeing.
All of this work is strengthened through community partnerships and strategic collaborations that enhance services, promote awareness, share learning, and deliver integrated support that encourages inclusion.
Empowering Lives Through Creativity and Care
HIS has recently launched My HIStory, an innovative podcast created in partnership with Northern Ireland charity Wheelworks. The series provides adults with ABI and their carers with a powerful platform to share their stories, highlight the challenges they face, and showcase the life-changing impact of support services.
Presented in a creative and accessible format, My HIStory raises awareness, reduces stigma, and reaches new audiences. It is available on Spotify, Amazon, and Apple Music, with plans to expand and feature additional stories from survivors and carers.
Looking ahead to 2026, HIS will continue to grow its social enterprise, producing handcrafted cards and gifts that offer adults with ABI meaningful opportunities to develop skills, boost confidence, and generate sustainable income to support ongoing services.
The organisation will also focus on strengthening strategic partnerships to deliver innovative projects, including Orchestrating Hope, an upcoming initiative in partnership with the Ulster Orchestra. This creative project uses music to promote wellbeing, social connection, and inclusion for people with ABI and their carers.
How NICVA Membership Has Benefited Head Injury Support
NICVA membership has significantly strengthened Head Injury Support’s organisational capacity, impact, and long-term sustainability. Access to high-quality training, mentoring, and shared learning has enhanced leadership, governance, and our ability to evaluate and demonstrate impact.
NICVA’s networking events, impact summits, and sector forums have enabled us to showcase our work, raise awareness of ABI, and build strategic partnerships across the voluntary and community sector. Additionally, NICVA’s advocacy and communications ensure we remain informed of key policy and funding developments, while amplifying the voices of people living with ABI and their carers with local decision and policy makers.
How You Can Support Head Injury Support
There are many ways to support HIS and help transform lives after brain injury:
- Buy social: Support the social enterprise at the Newry hub or online at www.headinjurysupport.org.uk, where cards and gifts are designed and handcrafted by people living with ABI.
- Raise awareness: Share their work, listen to and promote the My HIStory podcast, and help challenge stigma around ABI.
- Partner or collaborate: Work together to strengthen services, develop innovative projects, and improve inclusion.
- Volunteer: Opportunities include fundraising, befriending, activity facilitation, and service support.
- Donate: Help sustain and expand life-changing services so people affected by ABI receive the long-term support they need to rebuild their lives.
