A Headway event which enables brain injury survivors and their support networks to participate in a number of outdoor challenges and activities has celebrated its 10th anniversary.
Look Ahead in the North is a three-day residential event at the Calvert Trust in Kielder Forest, Northumberland, which brings together individuals, alongside their loved ones, who have been affected by brain injury.
Photo by Jim Montana
The event, organised by Headway, has been running since 2010 and involves members from across ten groups and branches of the brain injury charity across the North East and Cumbria.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Look Ahead in the North has been cancelled for the past two years, meaning it reached its landmark 10th anniversary in 2022 when it was held last weekend.
Ongoing restrictions meant that attendance this year was capped at 70 – previously, there had been up to 130 participants – but the same array of fully-accessible activities were on offer, which enabled participants to challenge themselves while also enjoying the social opportunity.
Look Ahead in the North was founded in the North East region by Alastair White, who was then the North East regional coordinator of Headway, alongside Ron Payne.
It brings together Headway groups and branches from across the entire region – North Cumbria, South Cumbria, Northumberland, Berwick, Borders, Tyneside, Wearside, County Durham, Hartlepool, Darlington and Teesside.
The concept came from a conversation at the Headway Way Ahead Conference in Staffordshire, which brings together Headway groups nationally, and was originally suggested by Stephen McAleese.
Sadly, Stephen has since passed away, but Look Ahead in the North is attended every year by his parents, Susan and John, and on the Friday
Photo by Jim Montana
night of the event, the annual quiz culminates in the award of the Stephen McAleese Memorial Shield.
Paul Brown, chair of Headway Wearside, attended Look Ahead in the North, and highlighted the important part it plays in the lives of brain injury survivors and their loved ones.
“For many reasons, everyone there gets so much out of it,” says Paul, also partner at Burnetts Solicitors in Newcastle.
“Through challenging themselves by taking part in activities, this helps to build confidence and interaction with other people, while also having fun and enjoying the outdoors. Whatever stage of recovery someone may be at, there will be activities for them to take part in.
“It also plays a very important role in peer support, which is what Headway is all about. Survivors and family members are all going through similar issues and experiences in their lives following brain injury, and finding others who share those and can relate to that is very valuable.
“Look Ahead in the North provides a great opportunity to do that, in an informal and fun environment. It is always a brilliant event, and one which has been greatly missed, so it was fantastic to see its return.”
