Caring about Equality
This year, Carers Week 2025 takes place Monday 9 June – Sunday 15 June. This year’s theme is ‘Caring about Equality’, highlighting the inequalities faced by unpaid carers, including a greater risk of poverty, social isolation, poor mental and physical health. Far too often, carers of all-ages miss out on opportunities in their education, careers, or personal lives, just because of their caring role.
A carer is anyone who looks after a family member, partner or friend who needs help because of an illness or disability and is not paid for doing so.
After a brain injury, it is often spouses/partners and other family members who take on caring roles to help the brain injury survivor with activities such as washing or dressing, staying safe, managing day-to-day activities and feeling emotionally supported.
Carers often have to make considerable changes to the way they live, such as spending less time with friends or reducing working hours. The changes can be difficult to adjust to.
In our recent campaign, On a good day, Headway discovered that 67% of carers surveyed find it difficult to do things independently when brain injury symptoms make it a bad day. You can find out more about our survey here.
Carers Week competition
This year, the Headway network of Headway independent charities and branches have marked Carers’ Week with a poetry competition. We’re delighted to share the winners with you!
“We had some fantastic entries this year. What talented people - words with such meaning! This decision has been really difficult, all the applicants are worthy of being winners. Thank you to everyone who took part and to carers who enable ABI survivors to become who they want to be.”
(Diane Derbyshire, Network Support Co-ordinator)
Congratulations to our winners
1st place - Lynne Moran
2nd place - Norwood Care Home Blackburn Residents
3rd place - Nikki Webber
Thank you to our judges and to Fletchers Solicitors, who generously provided prizes for all three winners.
Scroll down to read these incredible poems
Support for carers of brain injury survivors
If you are caring for someone who has a brain injury, Headway can help.
Publications
Our booklet Caring for someone with a brain injury has lots of useful information. You may also find other publications of interest in our Information library.
The Headway helpline
The Headway helpline is available to anyone affected by brain injury, and the nurse-led team have a wealth of information available to support carers.
HealthUnlocked
If you'd prefer more remote support, the Headway HealthUnlocked community is a peer-to-peer support network where carers and individuals living with brain injury can post blogs, ask questions, and give and receive support from others who understand what they're going through.
Carer support groups
Often the best source of support is other carers in a similar situation to yourself. Many of Headway's Groups and Branches provide support group meetings and one-to-one support for carers. These services are particularly helpful as they provide peer support from others in similar situations. Find out more here.
Poems for Carers’ Week
1st place: ‘Not A Job I Wanted’ by Lynne Moran (Carer)
It's not a job I wanted
but I took it on the chin
My hubby had brain/heart injury
Hi, my name is Lynne
I was stuck with no formal training
Pharmacist, Physio etc
It was tiring and emotional
OH it was so draining
As the months went by, I saw some improvement
With no help from others
It was a struggle and very hard
To pay my bills and rent
The benefit system belittled us
In ways we couldn't understand
Hubby was ill and couldn't work
We needed a helping hand
I struggled with forms, reviews & appeals
Eventually I was successful
To beg, steal & borrow
was demeaning and resentful
I wore many hats, appointment clerk, physio and more
A career move I didn't want
I guess I knew the score
Several months later, I found a group for us
Hubby was scared to go
I threw caution to the wind
I knew the status quo
Sue, Leanne, Karen and Liz were so welcoming and friendly
I found it wasn't just for Hubby
But was also there for me
It's been 12 years now an we've enjoyed the group
It's grown and changed a lot
We've lost and gained members
Some names I have forgot
When friends you knew before the change
Stop coming and calling each day
You know you can call a group of people
In the friendship called HEADWAY.
The judges said:
“Lynne describes her experience from the perspective of a family member being thrown into the caring role and the struggles, loneliness, frustration, humiliation and often "taken for granted” situation they find themselves in… often with the assumption that the carer will sort everything out. Taking on a totally new and challenging role that encompasses many of the skills of professionals without training, the grit and determination needed to fight the survivor’s corner. This poem provides a window into the life of a carer written with raw honesty and acceptance.”
2nd place: '‘In The Quiet Halls’ by Norwood Care Home Blackburn Residents, (ABI Survivors)
In the quiet halls of Northwood's embrace,
Reside hearts mending from life's cruel chase.
Acquired brain injury, a silent thief,
Steals away moments, leaves loved ones in grief.
Yet within these walls, hope finds its light,
Through carers who labour both day and night.
Their gentle touch, their patient care,
Transform despair into dreams that dare.
The silent warriors, unseen in their might,
Guide souls through darkness towards healings bright.
With each tender gesture, each comforting word,
They weave a tapestry of love, undeterred.
Through trials and triumphs, they stand tall,
Echoing resilience within Northwood's hall.
For every challenge met, every tear dried,
They are the heroes, our hope and pride.
So let us honour these guardians of grace,
Whose dedication lends joy a place.
In Northwood Complex Care, they shine so bright,
Turning shadows into purest light.
The judges said:
“So much imagery and poignancy in every line, this poem makes the reader believe that Norwood is a wonderful place to be. Never having been there, the reader is left with such a powerful impression of personal courage, determination, hope and hard work by residents and staff. From the first line to the last, you can feel the mutual respect and value that both the carer and the cared for, have for each other.”
3rd place: "Never Judge The Misunderstood" by Nikki Webber, (ABI Survivor)
Take independence
And let me be free in life
Never take it away
I can’t be me without you
I am not ever what I want to be
But at times people see past me
This is a pain in my heart, hurts my head, and I can’t sleep in the dark.
I cherish the life I’ve got but freedom is something I have never forgot
but care to me is like an apple tree.
It fills me with wisdom and grace
It gives me vitality and strength,
And I just want to say thank you to carers and people who have learnt how to care,
For people with different abilities,
That should never be overlooked or misunderstood,
But to understand my choice,
Firstly you have to hear my voice,
And to sculpture my future, you have to hold the pencil with me and not for me,
Because only I can paint the picture of who I want to be,
please see who I am when looking at my face,
You carers helped turn me into an adult Not just a child,
the skills I have are like eagle’s wings but sometimes I smile and it hurts within,
because being me is not who I can be in life alone on my own.
I need you to care for more than just what you see,
because I am the person inside of me
And it ain’t easy
The judges said:
“This poem illustrates the internal struggle shrouded in pain of needing to be cared for and often ignored, not seen for who they really are and wanted to be. The journey of growth from reluctance to acceptance, with a reminder that each individual’s soul has its own desires and hopes."
