I’m using my platform today to support and celebrate Brainwave whose mission is to support children with disabilities to reach their potential.
What are we celebrating?
2022 is Brainwave’s 40th birthday and they have lots of things planned to celebrate and spread the word about their work, particularly to families who may need to access their support for their children with disabilities. supporters are using #Brainwaveat40 to raise awareness in 2022.
What is Brainwave?
- Brainwave is a charity supporting children who have physical and/or cognitive disabilities, as well as those who do not have a diagnosis.
- They transform the lives of children with disabilities by improving mobility, communication skills and learning potential through a range of specialist therapies.
- They employ highly trained specialist therapists who work together enabling a holistic approach to achieving the best possible outcomes for each child.
- Children and their families attend a one-day assessment and a bespoke Therapy Programme is designed for each child to carry out at home.
- The outcomes achieved are fantastic. They can be anything from gaining head control, holding a cup, walking, recognising colours and writing to learning how to reduce anxiety and how to socialise with others.
Some children have defied their initial prognosis, attended school and are now in employment, others have attended university and now live independently!
With limited support, many parents feel alone, lost and powerless to help their child. After visiting Brainwave, parents feel listened to, understood and are as much a part of the therapy Programme as their child. Siblings are involved so they can feel part of the process too. Brainwave empowers families to make a positive change to their child’s (and the rest of the family’s life.)
For more information visit www.brainwave.org.uk or email [email protected].
Well-known supporters of Brainwave
Brainwave is also grateful to a whole host of well-known figures who have helped spread the news about Brainwave’s great work over the 40 years including HRH The Countess of Wessex, Olly Murs, Downton Abbey’s Lord Fellowes and his wife Lady Emma, Fay Brookes, Rowetta, Bez, Cath Tyldesley, Simon Rimer and Jack P Shepherd to name just a few.
Keith Sinclair, CEO of Brainwave said:
I am delighted to launch the celebrations and we are looking forward to sharing all our incredible memories, throughout the year, whilst continuing our awareness raising and fundraising efforts with a variety of initiatives including, Challenge 40, Wear ruby red day and Brainwave lottery. We’re pulling together an interactive “40 Years of Memories” online wall for past and present families, volunteers, supporters and staff to share their amazing stories. With the help of our kind supporters we’re hoping to raise £40,000 in 2022 to fund a new full time therapist, which will enable us to support more children who need our help.
Keith Sinclair, CEO of Brainwave
More information about Brainwave
Brainwave provides a relaxed, fun and friendly atmosphere for families at a fully equipped Centre in Somerset. There is a hydro pool, sensory rooms and accommodation available. They also offer support virtually through Brainwave Online and are planning to expand our face-to-face support to other areas of the UK soon.
They do not receive any government funding and so have to charge families for a proportion (£500) of the overall cost of an assessment. All families must pay a deposit (£50) and there is funding support available for those families where cost is a barrier.
Our multidisciplinary team includes Physiotherapists, Speech and Language Therapists with lots of experience providing Speech Therapy Sessions, Sensory Integration trained Therapists and Learning & Development Specialists.
After an assessment, all families are given:
- A detailed report
- A written and filmed version of their therapy Programme
- Equipment which is available on loan
- Access to Family Facilitator support
- Access to a private Family Facebook page to discuss subjects of interest with other families on a Brainwave Programme
- Access to a database of other organisation’s who also provide support.
Children and their families return to Brainwave after 4-6months for a re-assessment. Their therapy Programme is updated to match the progress they have made – Brainwave have a number of children (now adults) who have been supported for 10, 20 and 30 years!
Since 1982 brainwave have:
- Delivered over 13,000 assessments to support children with disabilities
- Delivered over 95,000 hours of therapy
- Celebrated successes by awarding over 4,400 Certificates of Achievement to children who have improved in areas such as walking, speech and language, gross motor skills, independence and many more!
- Supported hundreds of parent/carers and siblings
- Loaned out over 26,000 pieces of equipment for children to use whilst carrying out their individualised Programme at home including wedges, peanut balls and communication development aids
Let’s help spread the word about this incredible charity and in turn help children and their families all over the UK
Visit Brainwave’s dedicated 40th anniversary page for some suggestions on the ways you can get involved, help and support.
Last Updated on June 25, 2023 by Lucy Clarke
