Headsmatter pioneers victims of brain injury

Headsmatter co-founders Debbie Troops and Theresa Travis

A new support group will help people living with a brain injury.

Headsmatter, launched at the Mahdlo centre in Oldham, was set up by mums Theresa Travis and Debbie Troops, whose sons have both suffered a brain injury.

The pair suffered their sons’ injuries alone, without support, and their new group will be an online support and information resource - said to be the first of its kind in the country.

The women will help by working within the system, making complaints, working out budgets, dealing with social services, finding the right solicitors and showing how to deal with the day-to-day life of being a carer.

Debbie, from Saddleworth, who works in PR and media, is mother to Josh (25), who suffered a brain injury.

She said: “Support wasn’t there for us and it’s not there now. We have got to do this for all the other parents and carers. A lot of people just get on with it — I don’t know how Josh has done it.

Theresa Travis and her husband Mark, from Middleton, both gave up their jobs to care for her son Niall (22), who fell and banged his head on a kerb four years ago. He is now in a wheelchair and has limited mobility: “He’s come a long way but it’s a slow process,” she said.