Headway Northampton is delighted to be the chosen Charity of the Year by Voice.
Voice is a company commissioned by the Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner to provide support for victims and witnesses of crime, anti-social behaviour, serious fire incidents and serious or life-changing road traffic collisions. Voice Road Harm provides emotional support and specialist counselling and therapy to people who have been affected by serious injury or bereavement through road traffic collisions.
Leanne Norris, Business Manager for Voice, told us that: “We decided a couple of years ago that we would like to support a chosen charity each year. This year’s staff charity nominations were asked to be for a charity that meant something personal to them but that also linked to the work we do here at Voice. I nominated Headway Northampton in loving memory of my brother Duane.”
“My brother was aged only 19 years old when he was involved in a single vehicle road collision. Despite receiving no cuts, bruises, broken bones or visible injuries from the accident, he took a huge blow to his head and acquired severe brain injury as a result. Only days before my mum having to face the horrifying decision of removing his life support, some brain activity was found and after 5 years in intensive care units, hospitals and rehabilitation centres he was able to live with 24/7 support in an independent home. He never regained the ability to walk and only limited speech but for many years with the support of his care team led a full and active life. Unfortunately, despite fighting so hard for some many years, Duane gave up his fight this summer just before his 46th birthday. Headway Northampton, in the early years, not only provided him with fun and social activities and the chance to socialise with others who acquired brain injuries, but also provided great support in assisting me and my family with support when we needed it.”
Leanne went on to tell us that an original annual target of £500 was set with fundraising events planned for April 2020 to March 2021. Despite Covid, and a lot of those plans having to change, the current running total stands at an amazing £1788.19!
Leanne said: “Covid means that we have had to reconsider how we can support the charity and continue to raise much-needed funds. Some of the ways we have raised funds so far have included:
To mark what would have been the 40th running of the London Marathon, colleagues completed challenges over a weekend relating to numbers 2 & 6. I hopped a total of 26 times around my back garden, ran 2.6 miles then treated myself to a well earned 2.6 glasses of wine! And our senior service manager ran a marathon relay with her family and smashed 26.6 miles between them!”
To mark what would have been the Cannes Film Festival, Voice staff attended a virtual award ceremony over a video conferencing system dressed as famous icons – Whitney Houston, Harry Potter, George Clooney and Grace Jones turned up to name but a few!
Leanne told us that “A real highlight for staff was our Virtual Pet Show! Covid put pay to hosting this event in ‘real life’ but we carried on regardless and had winners in categories including:
1: Best Rescue Story
2: Funniest Pet Story
3: Pet that most looks like their owner
4: Best Pet Fancy dresser
5: Best Smiley Face
6: Gone but not forgotten (Pets who are no longer with us in person but still are in heart)”
“Not to mention the many, MANY prize give-aways we have had so far through the year with generous gift donations including;
– Cream tea for two delivered to the winner’s home!
– A pamper hamper
– Body Shop goodies
– Mental Wellbeing Lucky dip bags
– Chocolate and Scratch card hamper
– Spooky Halloween trick or treat hamper”
Leanne told us that: “We may have smashed our fundraising target but are determined to carry on raising as much as we can despite having to think of new and creative ways! We have a virtual Halloween Art competition shortly and are planning a fantastic Festive Quiz and party night in the winter and a boogie at a silent disco in the New Year!”
All of us at Headway Northampton would like to say a huge thank you for what’s been achieved so far by Leanne and her colleagues. The money raised goes a measurable way towards us being able to achieve our mission to provide a high-quality provision for our service users and will help us fund projects, activities and workshops.
THANK YOU, VOICE.
