Brain injury survivors and carers share their experiences in parliament for ABI Week

On Tuesday 19 May, MPs and members of the House of Lords met in parliament for an All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) for Acquired Brain Injury meeting.

Parliamentary attendees from different political parties, as well as other brain injury charities, heard directly from members of Headway Meirionnydd and from Headway UK.

‘We see you’: ABI Week 2026 in parliament

Our ‘We see you’ campaign is raising awareness of the impact isolation and loneliness following a brain injury can have on brain injury survivors and their families. It explores how the symptoms of brain injury can affect the ability and desire to see friends and family. And that’s exactly what Headway Meirionnydd members shared with parliamentarians.

Mother and daughter Avril and Sophie were two of those to tell their stories.

After Sophie’s brain injury, Avril gave up her own activities to care for her, leaving both of them feeling isolated. Their story reflects a wider reality, but with Headway’s support, they’ve rebuilt connections and feel less alone.

Speaking after the meeting, Avril said: “It was a great day - what an experience! It's such a busy place, and Sophie and I just loved being part of it all.”

Chair of Headway Meirionnydd Pat, who also attended, said: “Brain injury is devastating not only for the brain-injured but also for the whole family. Both Avril and I were stunned as we were all asked to introduce ourselves to around 30 people in the room.”

Pat added: “My husband Peter suffered his Brain Injury back in 2009 and when Sophie first started they struck up a good friendship. Sophie mentioned that it was good to come to our Headway Meirionnydd meetings as all the people there are like-minded, and know exactly what others are going through.”

Headway UK’s Director of Communications, Colin Morris, presented the findings from our latest report following our survey of brain injury survivors and carers.

Our survey indicates that almost 9 in 10 brain injury survivors (87%) and carers (85%) feel lonely after brain injury despite never having felt lonely before the injury.

However, 72% of brain injury survivors who attend a local Headway charity or volunteer-led branch say they helped them feel less lonely.

In addition to the cross-party group of MPs hearing about ABI Week, Wendy Chamberlain MP, one of our Parliamentary Champions, tabled a parliamentary motion to recognise the findings in our report.

ABI Action Plan update

Attendees at the APPG also received an update on the UK Government’s ABI Action Plan for England.

Headway UK has been making the case to the Department for Health and Social Care for urgent interventions to address the challenges facing community-based rehabilitation, reablement and support services since the plan was first announced.

We look forward to the government publishing its report by the end of June, after which we will share, review and react.

APPG for Acquired Brain Injury update

The APPG also held its Annual General Meeting and was successfully renewed for another year.

Sir John Hayes MP remains chair of the group and is joined by fellow Parliamentary Champions Ian Byrne MP and Baroness Morris, as well as Andy McDonald MP, as officers.