Hundreds attend Head Injury Information Days in Glasgow and Edinburgh

Digby Brown was proud to welcome more than 600 people to its 14th annual Head Injury Information Days (HiiD).

Brain injury survivors and healthcare experts from across the UK flocked to the free exhibitions in May and June where they accessed vital information on recovery and rehabilitation, innovative technology and supportive services.

Those who attended also heard inspiring stories from brain injury survivors and took part in art therapy workshops.

Chris Stewart, Partner and Head of our Serious Injury department, said: “Our aim every year is to create a platform where those affected by brain injury are able to attend a variety of informative sessions they can relate to.

“I would like to say a huge thank you to all of our speakers and exhibitors who generously shared their time with us in Edinburgh and Glasgow - we hope those who attended now feel informed, supported and empowered as a result.”

Around 330 people attended Glasgow HiiD on Tuesday 14 May at the Doubletree By Hilton and met with healthcare experts and 29 exhibitors.

They also heard from guest speakers Craig Scott and Vicki McKenzie and her daughter, Jennifer.

Jennifer was just 12-years-old when she suffered a brain injury after a car accident on the way home from school.

She spoke at Glasgow HiiD about her recovery saying: “Life as I knew it disappeared.

"Now it’s been two years and I’m more confident - so much has happened to me good and bad, I’m content for now." 

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Jennifer’s mother, Vicki, added: "The help that we received made such a difference to us, it gave my daughter her life back.”

Craig Scott shared his story of life with a brain injury at both Glasgow and Edinburgh HiiD in his video presentation ‘Forget about the old Craig and learn to live with this Craig’.

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The ex-aircraft mechanic was two months away from being married when he suffered an accident at work which left him with a brain injury.

Craig spoke about the vital support he received from Headway Ayrshire and said: “Headway was like a family to me; it was the one hour of a week where I felt normal.

“It was great to have people I could have a conversation with.

“I still live with issues; I still can’t read more than a page of a book because I flip the page and I can’t remember what I just read.

“But do you know something, I can tell you that this Craig is better than the version I was before.”

Brain injury survivors were able to showcase their creativity in an art therapy workshop set-up by community artist Seán Casey from the Glasgow Headway Art Group.

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The following month on Wednesday 12 June around 280 people attended the second HiiD at the O2 Academy Edinburgh accessing expert support from 35 exhibitors.

This time attendees heard from brain injury survivor Julian England who suffered a brain injury at 12-years-old after an altercation at school which caused him to lose his ability to speak.

In his presentation ‘Thriving against the odds: my brain injury story’ he said: “Unless you’ve lost your power of speech it’s difficult to explain how it feels. It was a huge knock to my self-esteem.

“It took between 2 to 3 months until I had my first breakthrough - I could say a word out loud that was longer than one syllable. I was making progress.”

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Guests at Edinburgh HiiD also had access to an art therapy workshop led by Edinburgh Headway's Art Therapist, Hannah Forrest.

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An exciting announcement was made to attendees at both events that a new Scotland-wide Head Injury Information Day would be held in 2025 – to enhance the available support and overall experience for people living with a brain injury.

Kirsten Smith, CSR Manager for Digby Brown, said: “The national event in 2025 will aim to amplify awareness of peer support networks, encourage knowledge sharing of professionals and improve access to other vital services that brain injury survivors deserve.”

To keep up with plans for next year’s national HiiD, please follow @headinjuryinfo on X (formerly Twitter) and register your interest on the HiiD website.

Hear from speakers, exhibitors and people who attended the two 2024 HiiD events in the video below.