By Karin Modig

"To be absolutely honest, I started volunteering to make my CV look better, and to improve my chances of getting into further study," says Jenny Lindbratt, 25, a third year Psychological Science student. In May last year she started volunteering at Headway House in East London, a day centre for people with brain injury.

Every year in the UK, around one million people attend hospital after suffering a traumatic brain injury of some kind. 12,000 of those injuries will be severe, and many of these patients will require long-term care. Headway House in East London is one of two day-centres for people with brain injury in Greater London and is attended by around 80 people every week. Volunteers are working at all levels of the organisation; including as board members, yoga instructors and fundraisers. "The volunteers have become crucial to running the centre," says Ben Graham, the centre's Volunteer Coordinator.

Jenny is volunteering with the biggest part of the team, the 'floor volunteers'. They are the volunteers who spend the most time with the attendees.

There is a discussion group every morning for an hour, and everyone joins in. Being a volunteer means responding to the interests of those attending, so Jenny's day can consist of "anything from playing dominoes to sorting out internet issues, helping with letter writing, doing art work or simply sitting down for a cup of tea and a chat."

Although all activities are voluntary Jenny explains that the aim is that the activities will enhance existing skills as well as develop new ones. It is hoped that the activities provided will give people the opportunity to regain lost skills and learn how to manage to live as independently as possible.

Brain injury

Brain injury is often referred to as the 'hidden disability', as you are rarely able to look at someone and see that they are disabled. "The first few times I volunteered were a bit difficult," says Jenny, "because I didn't know who was staff and who were visitors."

Although brain injuries are not always obvious to other people, the injuries affect people in a number of ways. "Personality changes are common, and the memory is often affected in some way," Jenny explains. Even though she has been coming to the centre once a week for nearly a year, not everyone recognises her. "You tend to have the same conversation over and over again with some people. It's just how it is."

She has noticed small improvement in some people, saying that there are people who have started to remember her, but in their own ways. "Many people know that I'm Swedish, for example, but they don't actually remember me. One man asks me how I am in Swedish every week. I taught him to say that, and he remembers, yet he can't remember my name."

Learning

Jenny says she is gaining a lot from her volunteer role and that she enjoys doing it. "Much of my course is about brain damage and how that influences people psychologically, so I have learned a lot that will benefit my studies."

On a personal level she says she now finds it easier to communicate with people who have experienced some type of trauma.

Floor volunteers at Headway House are asked to commit to a minimum of three months, but even though she has been involved longer than that, Jenny has no plans to quit just yet. "I'm enjoying it," she says, "and I like the people here."

Being a floor volunteer at Headway House does not require any special skills or qualifications, but enjoying being around people is important. "If you like people, you will like Headway East London," says Ben Graham.

Headway have a number of opportunities on do-it.org.uk - enter their name in the charity name field in the advanced search to look for opportunities in your area.

There is also information on the Headway website.

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