Headway-Natal empowers its members

HEADWAY-NATAL started 35 years ago to cater for the needs of a community, by helping those with brain injuries, stroke victims and their families.

Since then it has grown into a functional, multi-disciplinary rehabilitation centre based in the heart of Westville. “The people we serve are from all backgrounds and all communities. One thing that they all have in common is that our members suffer from an acquired brain injury which has had a destructive path in their lives and their families,” said Rod Soutter, the manager at Headway-Natal.

The centre embraces the entire family in a process of healing, information and support. “We introduce their loved one to occupational therapy, physiotherapy, psychology and speech therapy by completing an assessment, and based on that recommendation, the loved one starts therapy and the family are provided with information and support,” said Rod.

There are currently 15 staff members at Headway Natal, including its therapists, and about 50 volunteers. It relies on its own fundraising efforts to generate money to cover its costs and these include a bi-annual craft market, a charity shop that is open from Monday to Friday, its monthly warehouse and shop sales, its coffee bar which is open from Tuesday to Thursday and social events for its members.

The NPO has an activity programme for its members that runs from Monday to Friday and includes cooking, beadwork, work skills, baking, art, music (singing), sewing, general exercise, gardening, fabric painting and stroke group. All of these projects aim to stimulate its members. The main objectives of the organisation is to offer a rehabilitation service at a reduced cost, provide support to acquired brain injured survivors and their families, provide training to families and carers, create specialised activity programmes for members and to offer target support groups.

The NPO has ensured that its members have access to therapists to assist in the treatment of their injuries from Monday to Friday. Once a month it also has a social interaction session that allows for the members to interact socially, by taking them out to various venues around the Durban area, from the Botanical Gardens to the Westville Library and the beach near uShaka Marine World.

If you would like to volunteer at Headway-Natal, 11 Menston Road in Westville, or would like to make a monetary or in-kind donation, contact the NPO on 031 266 2709