Minister Responds to Headway’s When Funding Fails Report

Minister Responds to Headway’s When Funding Fails Report

The UK Government Minister responsible for Acquired Brain Injury, Ashley Dalton MP, has formally responded to concerns raised by Headway UK in the When Funding Fails report.

The report highlights the urgent funding crisis facing local brain injury charities — including Headway groups across the country — and warns that without immediate support, vital community-based rehabilitation services are at risk.

What Headway UK asked of government

Headway UK’s Chief Executive, Luke Griggs, wrote to the Minister with four clear requests to help ease the crisis:

Provide training for local authority and Integrated Care Board (ICB) commissioners.

Increase funding for brain injury services.

Reduce waiting times for needs assessments.

Ensure local authorities and ICBs pay charities on time.

The Minister’s response

Minister Dalton thanked Headway for its work in raising awareness of brain injury and supporting survivors and families. She acknowledged the financial pressures facing voluntary organisations and confirmed her commitment to working with Headway UK to develop the Government’s ABI Action Plan, due to be published later this year.

She wrote:

“We recognise the valuable work that Headway does in raising awareness of brain injury, supporting individuals and their families, providing specialist rehabilitation and reablement services and offering respite care. We understand these are financially difficult times for many voluntary and charitable organisations, such as Headway, due to a range of pressures.”

However, the Minister’s reply did not address the immediate financial concerns threatening the survival of local Headway charities.

Headway UK’s response

Luke Griggs, Chief Executive of Headway UK, said:

“We do appreciate the Minister’s commitment to an ABI Action Plan as well as reference to working with Headway on shaping the plan. However, local Headway charities are already under serious financial strain and urgent action is needed to support services.

Unless additional support is provided immediately, the community-based services that will be central to the government’s ABI Action Plan will simply not exist.”

At Headway Kent, we see every day how essential community rehabilitation and support is for people living with acquired brain injury and their families. National recognition is important, but without urgent action, the services survivors rely upon could be lost.

You can read the full response on Headway UK’s website here: Health Minister responds to Headway’s When Funding Fails report