Brachers, the largest law firm in Kent, has opened its doors to Headway West Kent, a national charity that works to improve life after brain injury, to host life skills courses for its members.
For the past 6-weeks, the Maidstone-based firm has provided a meeting room for the charity to hold training courses and certificate presentations free of charge.
The course culminated on 29th November when Headway members came together at Bracher’s offices – to collect their certificates and enjoy video presentations over coffee and cake.
The members were awarded a certificate for Headway’s recognised course, ‘Career Confidence’. The course enables those living with the effects of a brain injury to learn skills that increase their chances of gaining employment, enhancing their CV as well as helping them gain confidence. It is an empowering programme that allows the people determine where they want to be and assert how they will get there.
Mark Gore, Brachers Associate and Person Injury Lawyer, invited the charity to use the meeting room at Brachers to host their events. Mark, who joined Brachers in 2003, specialises in psychological injuries, chronic pain and head injury cases. His specialism, and thus the clients and cases he deals with, led him to find out about Headway and the great work they do with those who have suffered from brain-injury. He was present at the certificate presentation.
Mark said: “Brachers is pleased to support Headway West Kent. In these difficult times it is important to assist where we can so they can continue the excellent work they do with those suffering from acquired brain injury. We are looking forward to continuing this support especially in 2013 when Headway West Kent celebrate 25 years of providing support for those with an acquired brain injury.
He added: On a personal level it was wonderful to see a client of mine who I recently secured compensation for receiving her well-earned Certificate for the Career Confidence course. Indeed I have got to know all those who attended the Course held at Brachers and it was very inspiring to see how far they have all come. I look forward to welcoming them back for the next stage in 2013.”
With stretched funding, having a room donated for their courses allows the charity to make vital savings. Lisa Rye, Service Manager at Headway in West Kent said:
“Headway in West Kent has found the current financial climate a challenge not just for the organization but to those we support. For us to have Brachers involved in our projects enables us to offer our career confidence courses at an affordable rate and at a venue that is accessible to all. As a provider of services for those with a brain injury in West Kent we are delighted to have firms like Brachers partner the delivery of our services.”
The certificates were awarded by Sheila Caulfield, who leads the Career Confidence Course. The courses are tailored to suit those suffering from an acquired brain injury – through application of Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP), and collaborative learning techniques for small groups.
Career Confidence is just one of the course put on by Headway West Kent. Others include creative courses, such as pottery and woodwork. As well as staging courses they have recently opened a drop-in café in Maidstone town centre, which is accessible to anyone who is living with the effect of a brain injury – this includes family members, carers and professionals.