Supporting those affected by brain injury

The Silverlining Brain Injury Charity was founded in 2007 to improve the quality of life for those affected by brain injury. Silverlining extends their services to friends and family who are often overlooked, despite the impact that brain injury can have on loved ones. Their work engages brain injured people with the wider community to help build their confidence and motivate them to discover a sense of purpose.

Silverlining has always been at the forefront of what we do, especially in our Oxford office. Our involvement with the charity started in 2011, when client, Martin Black, suffered a brain injury at the age of 14, after being diagnosed with ketoacidosis as a result of diabetes. As a young man, Martin felt very isolated with his brain injury and wanted to meet more people. At the time, we were also working closely with Case Managers, Maggie Sargent and Nicola Cale, from Community Case Management Services (CCMS), who suggested bringing Silverlining to Oxford to help Martin regain a sense of belonging. Working together, we were pleased to help expand the reach of the charity into our local community.

We continue to support Silverlining in numerous ways, from hosting events and raising funds, to providing legal support and meeting spaces. In fact, the Silverliners even played a fundamental role in helping us re-design our office space to ensure it was accessible. Members of our Injury Division have also taken on a range of challenge events over the years to help raise funds for the charity, including a skydive and ‘walking a mile a day’ in May.

As well as fundraising, we are pleased to be able to raise awareness for the Silverlining charity. Our bi-annual Ahead Together Conference is now in its fourth year and brings together professionals and family members who are going through the changes of an acquired brain injury. As well as a hugely memorable fashion show, first held in 2015, where we saw 22 disabled and able-bodied models take to the runway. Following the overwhelming success of this initial event, we hosted a second show in 2017 and are currently planning our third fashion show for the Silverliners to hit the runway once again.

You can find out more about our work with Silverlining and the difference the charity is making in the video above, featuring Tracy Norris-Evans, Partner and Head of Injury.