A charity that offers support for people with brain injuries and their families has received a special award from the High Sheriff of Cumbria. 

Headway South Cumbria, part of Headway UK, not only offers support but also campaigns to reduce the incidences of brain injury.

The charity even has the Headway Brain Injury Identity Card designed to help police officers and others identify brain injury survivors more easily and ensure that they receive an appropriate response.

The local branch, based in Kendal, was started around 12 years ago and has helped hundreds of people in the South Lakes and Furness peninsula area.

Headway members, along with many other well-deserving charities and organisations, attended the prestigious awards ceremony which took place in The Appleby Hub. 

The Mail: The High Sheriff of Cumbria with the award recipients at Appleby hubThe High Sheriff is appointed personally by the Sovereign for one year and is his representative in the county in all matters relating to the judiciary.

Samantha Scott, who was the first High Sheriff of Cumbria to be appointed under King Charles III in April 2023, presented the organisations with the awards.

She awarded Headway South Cumbria in recognition of its 'great and valuable services to the community.'

The Mail: Headway members at a local meetingChairman Glenys Marriott, 75, said: "We were so thrilled and excited to be acknowledged by the High Sheriff for our contribution to the community.

"We were honoured as we're not a big charity like the likes of Age UK.

"We've grown from around ten members to 127 members. It's not only the people with the brain injury who need support but it's also their family members who need help.

"We started the South Cumbria group after we were asked by Headway UK due to there being such little support for those with brain injuries in this area.

"We have meetings in Kendal and Barrow as well as holding monthly meetings on Zoom.

"A brain injury can be immediately impactful and can effect someone instantly for the rest of their life.

"It can affect day-to-day living, education, work, relationships, social interactions - a lot of support is needed.

"There is a lot of support needed both for the injury itself and its consequences afterwards.

The Mail: The High Sheriff of Cumbria's certificate to Headway South Cumbira"We were very honoured to be acknowledged in this way and also to meet the High Sheriff.

"What made the award truly special is the message on the award was written by her personally to us - she had written around 20 other messages for different charities.

"For us to get this acknowledgment, it was very, very special."

To find out more about the work of Headway South Cumbria, visit the Headway UK website.