Welcome to Headway Plymouth
Who are we?
Headway Plymouth is an independent, non-profit charity with over 35 years of experience in supporting individuals, families and carers affected by acquired brain injury (and the professionals who work with them).
Our mission is to help survivors regain independence and improve their quality of life through specialist social and cognitive rehabilitation and re-enablement.
We provide tailored support for adults with brain injuries, as well as respite and guidance for their families and carers. Our services include centre-based rehabilitation, group programmes and one-to-one outreach support – all designed to promote independence, self-esteem and overall well-being.
What’s On?
Devonport Centre Opening Hours
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
Saturday
Sunday
By Appointment only
0900 – 1500
0900 – 1500
1000 – 1400
0900 – 1500
Closed
Closed
Thursdays are dedicated to our peer support groups which typically take place from 1030 – 1230. Please check our Peer Support page for details of groups, dates and times.
Read the latest Headway Headlines
- Letters from Louise – April 2026
Here’s the latest blog our wonderful client, Louise – who’s updated us on activities at Headway Plymouth in April 2026. Wednesday 1st April 2026 – Chill Time at Headway As you already know, this isn’t one of my usual days here. However, as it’s Good Friday in a couple of days and Headway will be … Continued - Karen Triumphs in her 2026 London Marathon Challenge
She’s only gone and done it. In hot hot conditions and with “less than perfect training” (her words), Karen has completed her first mass participation road marathon and what a doozy to start with. The most finishers in the fastest competitive marathon ever! We hope you had the most unforgettable day and an experience that … Continued - Great Funding News from the Livewell Foundation
We have some brilliant news to share! We’re thrilled to announce that Headway Plymouth has been awarded a major grant from the Livewell Foundation Headway Plymouth is addressing a different kind of invisibility: the experience of women with acquired brain injury (ABI), who are often undiagnosed and underserved, including those affected by domestic abuse, homelessness and … Continued
Facebook Posts
Here's the latest blog from our amazing client, Louise, who reflects on activities at Headway Plymouth in May.
Friday 1st May – Mindful Art Club CIC
Well, it was a lovely sunny day today and everyone seemed to be in a good place when Emma did the rounds, along with some mindfulness, of course.
We did some colouring on canvases in this relaxing session and had a bit of a laugh whilst at times, listening to eighties and nineties music- I remember watching some of the music acts on Top of the Pops!
Emma also told us about a Women’s Art Exhibition on Friday May 15th 2026 (free entry) that will be put on at the Leadworks, 170 Rendle Street, Stonehouse, PL1 1TP. Please check out on www.mindfulartclub.co.uk or ring 07877 290961. It will start at 7pm and finish at 9pm. All are welcome.
This exhibition will feature artwork from Plymouth’s women, and will consist of an evening of music, poetry and entertainment. It does sound interesting and I'm certainly looking forward to it.
I finally finished typing a letter to my Dutch pen pal and posted it, so I was relieved as I’d been procrastinating a bit with completing it.
Tuesday 5th May 2026 – Cooking with Jo
I didn’t actually take part in making the meal, but other clients did. The recipe was called Diet Coke/Pepsi Max Chicken, and it was very tasty. I’m not usually keen on rice, but it was fine rice and added some bulk which thankfully wasn’t too much. The recipe was from Slimming World and it was good to try it. Like I said, it’s not usually something I would eat, as I associate rice with feeling very uncomfortable after eating it but that rice didn’t affect me at all, thankfully.
I also played a few games of Scrabble and Trivial Pursuit with clients and volunteers, which was a nice change.
Friday 8th May 2026 – Pottery Workshop with Rachael from Clay Club
Rachel joined us at Headway for a pottery masterclass. I had been a bit wary of having a go at making something, but Rachel was very helpful and encouraging, and I thoroughly enjoyed myself. It was good to see that quite a few clients were present, and some had had previous experience of making things with clay. We all had a bit of a laugh as well, which always makes a pleasant environment. I made a cowboy hat, and I was very impressed with Anna’s creation of a Witches hat.
I also played some Scrabble with a volunteer and someone who did a week’s placement with us, as part of her Paramedic Science course.
Tuesday 12th May 2026 – Quiz Time
I wasn’t supposed to be at Headway today due to a dental appointment, which was then cancelled at the last minute. So I arrived later than I usually would, but at least I got there on time to participate in the main bulk of the quiz. I wouldn’t have known any of the logos that we had to guess, but I still managed to get half of the other questions correct, so I was very pleased. I did particularly well on the Words and Language round, getting nine out of ten answers correct (we all thought it was a difficult round).
Apart from that, I played a couple of games of Scrabble with Jonathan and Alberto, who is a first-year paramedic student and will spend a week at Headway, like Molly did last week. As I won’t be in this Friday due to going away for a few days, Alberto said he’d paint the hat-shaped pottery piece that I did last week when Rachel did the workshop at Headway.
Tuesday 19th May 2026 - games day
What has really irked me today, was that I left the Scrabble board (which I usually loan to Headway Plymouth) at home. I took it with me to play at the caravan with my dad and a friend, then completely forgot to bring it with me today – damn!
I played several games of Boccia with another client, started typing another letter to my Dutch pen pal, played a couple of games of Scrabble (using another boardgame) with Domas, who will be here as a placement as part of his Paramedic course until the end of the week, and spoke to Jo about some exercises.
Friday 22nd May 2026 – Boat Plymouth Boat Trips
Well, it was a bit of a palaver just getting to the harbour when my dad tried to drop me off there. I ended up getting the bus to Headway Plymouth and Jonathan dropped me off at the appropriate place, thankfully.
Unfortunately, I missed the free drink at the The Boathouse Plymouth and majority of the presentation, which was given by Richard, the Harbour Master of Cattewater Harbour Plymouth.
Alex, who is a client at Headway Plymouth, and who had worked with the Harbour Master prior to his present condition, managed to arrange a boat trip around Plymouth Sound for the Headway staff and clients.
This was a new experience for me and very relaxing as well as informative to learn about the Maritime history of Plymouth. My brother used to work at the Dockyard, designing things for submarines there, but that was all he could tell me, as he’d signed the Official Secrets Act.
Some of us then went for lunch together afterwards nearby, and it was nice to have a change from my usual sort of lunch. All in all, I think that we all enjoyed ourselves and I would highly recommend going on the boat tip to others.
Tuesday 26th May 2026 – Stitch & Splodge with Louise
Today I took part, along with the other clients, in decorating individual letters that spelt out Headway. We were given coloured tissue paper which we then cut into small pieces, after using different wooden stamps to print various designs on the tissue paper. We then had to glue the pieces of tissue paper onto the letter we were given; I shared mine with Cody and I think that we did a good job overall.
I didn’t have time to do anything else, apart from to have lunch at Headway and chat in German with Annika, who was one of the weekly Paramedic student placements, as I was going to meet a friend and see The Devil Wears Prada 2 at the cinema. Sequels are usually a bit of an anticlimax, but I would definitely recommend this one, as it had a few twists and turns to it.
Friday 29th May 2026 – Exercise with Megan from Plymouth Neurophysio
My dad joined us for this exercise session, and Brian was also present after not being at Headway for a week, so it was good to see him again. I felt quite unfit as we hadn’t had an exercise class for a month, even though I go to the gym. But I do different exercises at the gym.
After lunch I played Scrabble with Jonathan, a few games of Uno with volunteers, had a bit of a natter and caught up with my blog.
Louise
As part of National Volunteers’ Week, we would like to pass on our heartfelt thanks to all volunteers at Headway Plymouth.
We want to take a moment to recognise the incredible contribution made by volunteers across the Headway network. Every week, hundreds of volunteers give their time and skills to help people affected by brain injury.
Volunteers are a hugely valued part of the Headway community, and we want them to know just how much their commitment and generosity mean.
Their time, dedication, and compassion really do help to change lives and support our shared mission to improve life after brain injury.
After another men’s peer support group at our Devonport hub today, just a reminder that our women’s peer support group will meet again next Thursday 4th June at 10:30 - 12:30.
Free to all women living with any acquired brain injury of any type - sustained at any time.
You don’t need to be a regular attendee at Headway Plymouth to join this monthly group where we chat, support and share experiences.
CALLING FEMALE CARE GIVERS FOR BRAIN INJURY SURVIVORS
Could you or someone you know support a Plymouth University based research project looking at the role of female carers of those living with acquired brain injury?
Take a look at the information below. Victoria is looking for female care giver participants to support her research.
The only commitment is to an online interview that could last from 60-90 minutes.
As a participant, you'll also receive a £25 Amazon voucher for your efforts!
If you are interested in taking part, feel free to contact Victoria directly at:
Victoria.partington-smith@plymouth.ac.uk
Thank you for supporting this vital research in Plymouth.
It was scorching outside Headway House today. Too hot, even, to sit out in our new green space.
So we cranked up the AC and enjoyed a brilliant crafty session with Louise from Stitch & Splodge.
We’re so chuffed to see how Louise’s enterprise has flourished - with her gorgeous new studio in Stoke Village and now exiting news of her nomination for Small Business of the Year at the West Country Women’s Awards.
Louise strives to create opportunities for creativity, connection, wellbeing and community.
Thanks, Louise, for all you do to support our clients. We love the new decorative letters we made today - that will take pride of place on our centre walls.
This week in parliament, brain injury survivors and carers shared their experiences of isolation and loneliness with MPs and members of the House of Lords as part of our ‘We see you’ campaign for Action for Brain Injury Week.
You may have seen Avril and Sophie featured in our ABI Week campaign this week as they shared their story of life after brain injury. On Tuesday, they were in parliament alongside members of Headway Meirionnydd, speaking directly to parliamentarians about the impact brain injury can have on survivors, families and carers.
They also shared the difference support can make. Through Headway, new friendships can form, confidence can rebuild and people can feel less alone.
Our latest survey found that almost 9 in 10 brain injury survivors and carers experience loneliness after brain injury. But 72% of survivors who attend a local Headway group say it helps them feel less lonely.
Read more about the APPG meeting and our ‘We see you’ campaign: buff.ly/6JNFwJK
#ABIWeek #ActionForBrainInjuryWeek #BrainInjury #Headway #WeSeeYou
Brain injury survivors and carers share their experiences in parliament for ABI Week
buff.ly
MPs met in Westminster this week to hear from brain injury survivors and carers about Headway UK’s ‘We see you’ campaign for ABI Week.