Visit to Headway East London

The Master Dinesh Naidu and Assistant Carole Plant Grant Secretary with Liverymen Carolyn Hutchings and Sally Wyllie visited Headway East London on Thursday 26th February. welcomed by Grace Bailey who introduced us to one of the members Matt, who took us on a tour. Matt visits every Tuesday and Thursday following a head injury he sustained in 2018 - about which he knows nothing at all. He spent 6 months in hospital and it took 2 years from him to come off the huge waiting list for this wonderful day centre. Matt is pictured with Dinesh, Sally and Carole in front of art work, created by members, to show the areas of the brain and the functions they control. He was able to point to the parts of his brain which were affected by hypoxia following a cardiac arrest at the time of his fall. The Fan Makers' Charity have donated funds to this charity for several years, one year the grant went towards a ceramic kiln for their art therapy workshop which is widely used. The 2025 grant was put towards building a shed in the garden which is now the proud "office" of caretaker Colin, also a member until he took up this role in June 2025. He plans to use the shed, not only to fix things around the site, but also to help members lean how to fix simple broken household items.

We met several members of the management team, including CEO Sarah Lansbury, Director of Development Natalie Clapshaw and Director of fundraising Kath Lee.

They were all

profoundly impressed by the wonderful team, the great ambience and music playing and the updates given to us at our discussion. Many thanks to the volunteers and members who provided a delicious curry lunch.

Caretaker Colin next to his new shed

Carole, Matt, Dinesh & Sally

Headway Art Work of Brain

Artwork

Ceramic Kiln

Close up of the shed