Conference Agenda 

08:45: Registration, Tea/Coffee, Networking & Exhibition Stands.

10:00: Opening Remarks – Victoria Stevenson, Headway Lincolnshire Chair of Trustees

10:05: Sponsors Foreword - Andrew McGowan, Head of Neurotrauma Sinton’s LLP

10:15: The Isolation of Living with a Vestibular Condition – Nicola Hunt Neurological and Vestibular Physiotherapist.

No one likes to be the odd one out. No one likes to feel misunderstood. Yet for people living with a vestibular condition, this is common.

This presentation will give an insight into the isolation that people living with a vestibular condition can feel, and the knowledge to make sure that you can provide support and end that isolation for the clients you work with.

10:45: From Recovery to Resilience: A Brain Injury Survivor’s Journey to Empowering Others Through Fitness – Adam Savage, Brain Injury Survivor, Gorilla Man Fitness

This inspiring presentation shares the journey of Adam, a brain injury survivor who transformed personal adversity into a mission to help others rebuild their strength, confidence, and connection through fitness. Drawing from lived experience and professional training, Adam will explore how movement can be a catalyst for both physical recovery and social inclusion. 

11:15: Break, Tea/Coffee, Networking, and Exhibition Stands.

12:00: When Funding Fails: The Fallout from the Crisis – Marie Peacock Head of Network, Headway – the Brain Injury Association

Headway – the brain injury association – has developed a new report, When Funding Fails: The Crisis Facing Brain Injury Charities, highlighting the growing pressures on local Headway charities across the UK.

In the past two years, nearly 10% of the local Headway network have been forced to close permanently and alarmingly, two-thirds of those responding to the survey said they could not commit to being financially sustainable in the long term.

But what does this mean for individuals? This funding crisis has real-world consequences with brain injury survivors experiencing long delays in assessments for rehabilitation funding, facing reductions in their support hours, or being told they are no longer eligible for services at all.

This session explores the human cost of the funding crisis – and what it means for future support for brain injury survivors.

12:30 – 13:00– Turning Isolation into Opportunity: How I Rebuilt My Life After My Brain Injury – Brooke Trotter, Brain Injury Survivor.

Brooke’s talk will focus on how he watched his friends graduate, start careers, and have families while he struggled with isolation, unable to finish university or start his own career.

Feeling behind with no qualifications, he turned his experience recovering from a traumatic brain injury into a unique qualification. His goal is to inspire others going through similar challenges by sharing his journey. This led him to a career in public speaking, blogging, and advocating for brain injury recovery.

13:00: A Seat at the Case Conference – Georgina Crawford, Barrister, Ropewalk Chambers and Nicola Hunt, Physiotherapist

This presentation will give a fly-on-the-wall view of a case conference with a barrister and expert physiotherapist. A chance to observe and reflect for those who participate regularly in case conferences, and an insider view for those who don’t. 

13:30: Lunch, Networking & Exhibition Stands

14:30: Sponsors Foreword – The Brain Injury Group, Veterans Welfare Group.

14:10: Brushstrokes of Connection: Art Therapy as a Pathway Through Brain Injury and Isolation – Kate Lawrence, Psychotherapist.

Kate will be sharing evidence for the efficacy of creative therapies with adults with acquired brain injury, by describing a group process and sharing artwork alongside patients’ reflections, made in a therapy session (with permission from the wonderful group) and showing that Art Psychotherapy can indeed lessen isolation and is suitable for everyone.

14:40: Learning How to 'Live' Again – Barry Wood, Brain Injury Survivor

This presentation offers a first-hand account of resilience, adaption, and advocacy. Through Barry’s story, you will hear about the immediate impact of the injury, the challenges of recovery, and the ongoing journey of adjusting to life after brain injury.

15:10: Break, Tea/Coffee, Networking, and Exhibition Stands.

15:40: Sex and Brain Injury - Breaking the Silence in Professional Care – Hayley Niner, Occupational Therapy Assistant

Throughout a patient’s journey during assessment and intervention we focus on activities of daily living, but do we ever consider the one activity that may just affect a person more than being able to make a hot drink or getting dressed independently, the one that they may have a burning desire to talk about, Sex and Intimacy? Many professionals struggle to address sexual health with their patients, despite its impact on relationships, self-esteem, and overall well-being. Hayley will be talking about sex and intimacy, looking into the barriers that professionals face, sparking interest and discussion and going forward to remove the perceived taboo.

16:10: Closing Remarks – John Knight, Trustee of Headway Lincolnshire, and Senior Director at Ringrose Law.