The Brain Injury Foundation
Background
It is a support group for brain injury survivors and their families and carers. It was launched by a group of survivors, carers and volunteers in August 2012 and has over 70 members from all over Newry and Mourne, Armagh, Banbridge and Dungannon. BIF supports people with all forms of brain injuries including strokes.
BIF differs from many charities in that it is service user led. This means that service users are all members and have a vote in guiding the organisation. Almost all of the Management Committee are brain injury survivors or carers. Many of the services offered by BIF are delivered in part or completely by brain injury survivors or carers. This means that services are tailored to meet the real needs of brain injury survivors and carers.
Values, Mission, Vision
OUR VALUES
Choices, Inclusivity, Accountability, Integrity, Dignity & Respect, Synergy
OUR VISION
Brain injury survivors, their carers and families have all the support they need to lead fulfilling and sustainable lifestyles. Their needs and the challenges they face are recognised, understood and supported by statutory bodies and the wider community.
OUR MISSION
To be a centre of excellence providing lifetime support to brain injury survivors and their families and carers.
In 2013, BIF purchased and renovated a property in Camlough following a £350,000 grant from the National Lottery funded Space & Place programme. With funding support from the Space & Place programme, BIF has opened Northern Ireland’s first community owned Centre of Excellence for Brain Injury support. Located just outside Newry there is excellent on-site parking, including disabled parking, so the premises are fully accessible.
We also own Northern Ireland’s first Pub, Biffers, the pub with no Beer for brain injury survivors, and an outreach horticulture programme based in Milford Armagh.
Our Aims
The aims of the organisation are to empower brain injury survivors and their cares and families to design, deliver and monitor a programme of activities and a range of services which enhance their quality of life and address their needs, in particular social isolation.
To provide brain injury survivors, their families and carers with information and emotional support.
To raise awareness of the needs of brain injury survivors, their carers and families.
More About Us
Client Testimonials
As a parent with a daughter with a brain injury I simply want to share with you what the Brain Injury Foundation means to me and what we have gained from it since its inception.
When I joined Brain Injury Foundation I was at a very low ebb, I was on anti-depressants, l felt engulfed with a despair of feeling “how much longer can I keep going”, yes I had lots of family scattered in different parts of N.I. and mainland UK, but within my four walls were only my daughter and I.
Since May 1997 I have watched my daughter suffer daily with her various medical diseases and conditions, their impact and how they robbed her of natural experiences in living and growing up, the impairment on her quality of life tearing at my core causing my depression.
We became member of BIF and through its active calendar of events have forged friendships and support networks which have given us tremendous joy.
We no longer suffer isolation, even on the numerous days health keeps us at home I have many friends, and I really do mean friends, they care deeply and support us by phone and various social networking sites , this too has been facilitated through BIF programme of our tablets and teaching class on how to surf the web.
At times we sit and talk openly about issues solely related to our given situations, we readily offer each other comfort and advice from past experiences on coping with whatever problems are encountered, these can be emotional and tearful but before the conversations close we are always laughing again purely because of the immense support and friendships of hugs.
I cannot in these few words express truly how much BIF means to us but I can clearly say if we hadn’t BIF we would be lost and I never wish to go back to that feeling of despair and loneliness.
Sara Hudson
Where Are We Located?
Our House & Biffers
We occupy a 4000 square feet single storey building on the Camlough Road, Newry. The building houses office, meeting room, activity hall, games room, coffee bar, quiet room, wet room, toilets. There is an outside patio and parking, including disabled parking for around 20 cars. The project has been funded by a grant of £350,000 from the National Lottery’s Space & Place programme.
We also own Northern Ireland’s first Pub, Biffers, the pub with no Beer for brain injury survivors.
