Play2Give & Oxford Head Injury Services

Oxford Head Injury Services

Oxford Head Injury Services is a local charity that is dedicated to supporting around 450 people a year who are affected by the impact of brain injuries (the individuals themselves and their families) across Oxfordshire.  From providing therapeutic services to compliment rehabilitation such as yoga, tai-chi to physiotherapy, speech therapy, memory workshops and practical support, OHIS relies on fundraising to keep its excellent services running.

How have Play2Give supported OHIS?

Play2Give’s fundraising efforts has been key in the refurbishment of OHIS‘s Activity and Rehabilitation Centre (ARC) in Kennington which was completed in September 2016. Thanks to our supporters involved in our fundraising efforts, a lot of the funds we helped raise went towards the appeal £200,000 funding appeal to make the facility more ‘chic and modern looking’.

It has helped equip a much expanded modern and high spec kitchen furnished by Smeg in Abingdon, state of the art disabled toilets, a dedicated quiet room, games room, consultation rooms for visiting physiotherapists, and new offices for staff, previously in uninspiring porta cabins. The refurbished centre allows OHIS to help even more people affected by brain injuries.

Our own Andrew Baker attends the centre twice weekly as part of his rehabilitation for the brain injury he suffered at birth.  He has been under the services of OHIS since 2012, he began volunteering in the fundraising office in 2011. To date we have raised since 2014 over £24,000 for OHIS.

Helping to fundraise towards the first dedicated neurological physiotherapy gym

Another large fundraising focus with Oxford Head Injury Services has been helping the charity raise £30,000 that, again with our supporters, we helped to play a small part in creating Oxfordshire’s first dedicated neurological physiotherapy gym of its kind in the voluntary sector.

This specialised neurological physiotherapy gym based at the centre ensures that it is easily accessible for those with physical disabilities with specialised exercise equipment in being key to the recovery and rehabilitation of adults with brain injuries. Our own Andy benefits a great deal from the use of these pieces of kit. We helped fund seven of these specialist exercise chairs at £7,000 through funds we raised in our tenth anniversary year in 2017.

​People with brain injuries often have associated mobility issues making it impossible for them to use standard exercise equipment like that of high street gym’s. We were proud to be part of the appeal, which helped to kit this dedicated space, officially unveiled as part of the centre’s grand re-opening in May 2017.

Helping support the vital work OHIS offer

Fundraising by the local community for OHIS is more than ever vitally important to enable the charity to continue its important work ensuring that the 450 individuals and their affected carers and families gain access and the specialist support needed. Having lost the substantial funding received from Oxfordshire County Council in 2016 and as a small charity, the efforts of Play2Give and that of others from businesses to individuals the community is crucial to the long term sustainability of OHIS.

We are focused in our fundraising to help create the sensory rehabilitation garden, which will transform the current garden into a haven of peace and tranquillity with better access too on the ground for those in wheelchairs and mobility issues. In September 2019, we were proud to donate £507.28 towards creating this special area at the centre. 

Oxford Head Injury Services aims to:

• offer advice, information and practical support to anyone affected by an acquired brain injury – including the individual, families and carers.
• provide activity and rehabilitation service, through its Oxford centre and through community support workers.
• raise funds in support of those affected by brain injury in Oxfordshire.

For more information, or to make a donation direct visit https://oxfordheadinjuryservices.org.uk, or call 01865 326263. Click here to donate directly.