Headway Essex

08/10/2026

08/10/2026

We’re sharing a few photos from our Charity Golf Day at Thorndon Park Golf Club yesterday taken by Matt Sprake of PR Pics UK

If you joined us, have a look through the photos and see if you can spot yourself! And if you weren’t able to make it, here’s a little look at what you missed.

We were really pleased to spend the day with our long-standing supporter, Chris James, who helped us bring everyone together in support of Headway Essex.

We had 10 teams taking part throughout the day and, and it was wonderful to see so many people enjoying themselves while supporting a cause that means so much to us.
We were also incredibly lucky with the weather , we had beautiful sunshine all day.

A heartfelt thank you to everyone at Thorndon Park Golf Club. The course was fantastic, the food was lovely and the team looked after us so well.

We’d also like to thank Bennetts Funeral Directors Ltd and Carteret Executive Car Service for sponsoring the event, and everyone who donated raffle and auction prizes. Your generosity helps us continue supporting people affected by brain injury across Essex.

Most of all, thank you to everyone who came along, took part, donated, sponsored and helped make the day possible.

It was a really lovely day, and we’re very grateful to everyone who helped make it happen.

07/10/2026

Who’s noticed the days getting shorter and feels like there’s a shift in the season?

Shortening autumn days start to reduce natural light,and can disrupt the brain's internal clock (suprachiasmatic nucleus) and circadian rhythm. If you add a brain injury on top, this can intensify fatigue, low mood, sleep disturbances, brain fog and concentration issues.

It’s worth being aware of these changes as there are steps you can take which can help.

Practical Ways to Manage Winter Days

Morning Light Exposure: Step outside or sit near a bright window soon after waking up to help anchor your circadian rhythm.

Light Therapy: Consider using a certified 10,000-lux light therapy box in the morning. Speak to your doctor or healthcare professional for guidance on whether it’s suitable for you.

Pace your energy: Break tasks into smaller, manageable blocks and rest before fatigue peaks. This can help reduce the likelihood of those really difficult “bad days.”

Keep a consistent routine: Try to maintain regular wake-up and sleep times, even as daylight hours change.

Small changes can really make a difference. So, as the days get shorter, be kind to yourself, listen to your body, and give yourself the support you need.

If you are finding this time of year hard you don’t have to manage on your own — help is available.

We encourage you to reach out for support if you need it. You can contact us on 01206 845945 or email [email protected].

https://www.headwayessex.org.uk/2026/10/07/shorter-days-changing-seasons-looking-after-yourself-through-autumn-and-winter/

06/10/2026

These stunning views are from Thorndon Park Golf Club this morning.
We’re wishing everyone taking part in the Headway Essex Charity Golf Day a fantastic day on the course. We hope you have a brilliant time and that the sun keeps shining!

Good luck to everyone playing!

02/10/2026

Our new Wellbeing Hub is taking shape!

We have some really exciting news to share. We’re building a Wellbeing Hub at our centre in Colchester!

Today, we had a site visit with Dan from SDE Contract to see how our new purpose-built Wellbeing Hub is taking shape.

It’s amazing to see the building starting to come to life and to think about what it will mean for the people we support.

The Hub will provide an accessible, welcoming environment where people living with brain injury can access rehabilitation, therapy, exercise and wellbeing support.

Having this dedicated space will give people the opportunity to continue working towards their goals in an environment designed around the challenges they may face. We know how important familiarity and feeling safe can be, and we’re really excited to create a place where people can feel comfortable, supported and confident.

A huge thank you to everyone who has supported us and helped us get to this stage. We're especially garteful for the generous support of funders and donors, including a £100,000 grant from the Colchester Freemasons and £50,000 from Colchester Catalyst Charity without whom this project would not have been possible.

There’s still lots to do, but it’s fantastic to see the Hub becoming a reality.

You can read more about the Wellbeing Hub and why it means so much to the people we support here: https://www.headwayessex.org.uk/2026/10/02/a-new-chapter-for-brain-injury-rehabilitation-in-essex/

30/09/2026

We’re nothing if not triers!

We’re busy putting together a video about our community services, and the lovely Molly and Aimee bravely volunteered to be recorded.
They’ve been absolute superstars… although, as you’ll see, being in front of the camera isn’t always as easy as it looks!

There were plenty of takes, a fair bit of giggling, a few questionable lines and the occasional complete loss of the plot.

So, before we show you the polished version, we thought you deserved to see the bits that didn’t quite make the cut!

Here are some of our favourite bloopers. They made us laugh and hopefully they’ll make you laugh too!

27/09/2026

Yay Paddy the Headway therapy dog and his rosette in the gun dog category!