The cost-of-living crisis has had a devastating impact on families who were already struggling to make ends meet. For many parents and carers, there is little-to-no money to spare for non-essentials like children’s clubs or extra-curricular activities. It’s perhaps not surprising that, according to a report by Sport England, children and young people from less […]
While looking after a young child can be very rewarding, it can also feel isolating at times, especially if you don’t have friends in the same situation. There are only so many times you can sing Old Macdonald before you start really craving adult conversation. And you have so many questions… Am I doing this […]
Loneliness is hard to cope with at any time of the year, but it can be particularly challenging during the festive period. Older people who live alone can find it especially difficult. According to Age UK, 2.3 million older people said they wished they had someone to spend time with last Christmas. Thanks to H&F […]
Could you be our next Chair of Trustees?
We are looking for an exceptional individual who shares our values and aspirations for Hammersmith. If you have the vision, leadership skills, and a genuine connection to our mission, we would be delighted to hear from you.
Find out how Headway West London is using its Community Grant to support people who have experienced a brain injury.
Suffering a life-changing injury of any sort can be devastating, but a brain injury can feel particularly isolating. Effects range from cognitive difficulties to memory issues, fatigue, sensory issues, loss of basic skills, and debilitating headaches. In short, every area of the person’s life can be affected.
William was hit by a car aged 21, while cycling from his home in Hammersmith to his workplace. The collision resulted in a traumatic brain injury. He shares, “It’s been very difficult to go back almost to square one. Adaptation is a key part of recovery. You have to build strategies for the differences you now have – cognitive, memory, attention. High-level cognitive strengths I struggle with now. As a traumatic brain injury survivor, it’s very easy to feel low when you have such differences relative to everyone else.”
William has found advice, support and a community of people who understand what he’s going through at Headway West London. The charity works with people who have survived a brain injury, and their families, carers and other professionals. Laura Murphy, Chair of Headway West London, shares, “You get such great care from the NHS, but when you get discharged from hospital there are real gaps in service offerings. It can feel like a bit of a minefield finding support, whether that be to meet therapeutic needs, or around lifestyle, housing, finances and so on.”
The sense of community that people find at Headway West London is crucial. As William says, “It was very difficult initially to accept what changes I’d have to deal with in my life at that young age. To find the community was really important to me. There are a lot of people who are there recovering with you and supporting you.”
You can hear from other brain injury survivors here.
The REACTIVATE programmeHeadway West London has received a grant from Hammersmith United Charities to fund up to eight brain injury survivors on the REACTIVATE programme. REACTIVATE is a 6-week rehabilitation programme, which as Laura explains, “is about giving people the strategies and tools that they can put into practice to help improve their life. Different professionals attend each week to talk about different aspects of wellbeing and recovery. It’s about maximising rehabilitation, whether that’s physical or psychological. This grant enables us to reach more members in the H&F area.”
The groups are kept small so that each session can be tailored to the individuals’ specific needs. Brain injuries vary in severity and impact, and they can be experienced alongside physical disabilities. The REACTIVATE sessions are designed to be as inclusive as possible. For instance, if the group is being taught yoga techniques to aid relaxation, then chair-based exercises will be included for people with mobility issues.
Laura adds, “We have two part-time link workers, who work closely with REACTIVATE members. For example, some members might be able to engage well with the sessions but won’t remember that the sessions are on so will need phoning to be reminded. Other people might find it really challenging to attend in person, so we’ve offered hybrid sessions where they can attend online.”
“One of the most important things is bringing people together who have a shared experience and mutual understanding. That’s hugely important. You can just be yourself and be open about all the problems you’re having. You don’t have to explain why you find some things difficult. A lot of them become like peer mentors for each other, start their own WhatsApp group and encourage each other to stay on top of things, keep up with friends, go out for walks and so on.”
Feedback for REACTIVATE has been overwhelmingly positive, with a recent participant saying, “A great job running the workshops. These last five weeks have been very beneficial post surgery, in getting out of the house and safely connecting with useful information and people who understand some of the current difficulties. It’s a great course, and I’m really glad I joined the group.”
Do you have a few hours free each week? Headway West London is looking for more people to volunteer. You might have a specific skill, like art or yoga, to share with members, or experience that would be invaluable for the charity, such as social media. Headway West London is also recruiting new trustees and is particularly keen to hear from people who have lived experience of a brain injury, or a background in HR. Contact Headway if you feel that you can help.
“It’s important to get everyone involved on the journey towards gender equity, as we’re all on this journey together.”
Rosie Peters is Head of Wendell Park primary school and is helping to promote equality and inclusion both in the school and across the borough.
I have done a lot of work on diversifying the curriculum and changing the mindset of pupils, staff and parents through training, workshops and the use of national data and research.
We want all the children to be able to see themselves within school life and within the school curriculum, and to feel comfortable talking about their home backgrounds. We don’t want them to have preconceived ideas of what a person will be like. Instead, we want them to be curious, to ask questions and to find out more about a person.
We do a lot of work around the nine protected characteristics*. For example, we have discussions in our assemblies, invite guest speakers into school to give talks, and we make sure that we celebrate occasions like International Women’s Day, Black History Month, Disability Awareness Month and Pride. We also talk about famous people. For example, we spoke to the children about Beethoven and how his deafness didn’t stop him from becoming one of the world’s greatest composers.
People say that you can’t be what you can’t see, but we tell the children, “If you can’t see it, be it. Don’t be frightened of being the first one.”
By making diversity part and parcel of what the children are experiencing day in, day out, it becomes the norm for them. For instance, the children fundraise for the local community, which gives them an understanding of the struggle some people face and how they can make a difference. Recently, we’ve raised money for The Upper Room.
We’ve done a lot of work with other teachers in the borough. I held a number of webinars where teachers had the opportunity to discuss the model that we use at Wendell Park and how to make sure that the curriculum is inclusive in their own schools.
We also started a grassroots organisation called The Power of Representation. For that, I had the pleasure of leading two webinars with the British historian Professor David Olusoga, who I think is absolutely fantastic. As part of the Year 6 curriculum, we now study his book ‘Black and British: A short, essential history,‘ When the children hear about the different communities who have been in Britain for centuries, it opens up history for them and makes them realise that they and their families are part of British history and that they belong.
Boardrooms are still male dominated. We still need more women in positions of power. We also need equity in pay, as all too often men and women are doing the same jobs, but the women are being paid less.
We’ve come a long way, but there’s still a way to go.
Role models, mentors and coaches are crucial. Sometimes people may not see their own potential, so it’s really important when others who do see that potential are able to guide the individual forwards. Otherwise, it’s all too easy to stay in your comfort zone.
Earlier in my career, I had two fantastic headteachers – Sheila Mears and Julie Howarth – who really inspired me and pushed me forward. Without them, I would never have thought of moving up into leadership.
It’s important to get everyone involved on the journey towards gender equity, as we’re all on this journey together. We need to educate boys on this as well as girls. As an example, at Wendell Park, the football pitch is just for girls on a Wednesday. To start with, the boys complained, so we asked them a few thought provoking questions: “Have a look at famous footballers, who are they, male or female? Have a look at their pay, is it the same for men and women? Have a look at the history of football. Do you think female footballers have had the same opportunities? Why might that be? What can we do?”
We want our boys to grow up to be allies, to have an understanding of what they can do to make things more equal.
Michelle Obama. She opened up the White House to so many different people, championed education and is so resilient.
100%. We need to look across the board and be aware of all the different barriers that people face, rather than looking at one protected characteristic in isolation.
When marking certain events and as an employer, it’s crucial to understand how to unlock the doors and be mindful that an individual may face multiple barriers because of having more than one of the protected characteristics.
That might mean making certain adjustments in your organisation, because if you don’t, you’re never going to be able to tap into the full resource that each individual can offer. The more diverse a workplace is, the more you get in return and the more you understand what the community you’re trying to reach actually needs.
For diversity, equality and inclusion resources, Rosie recommends visiting Diverse Educators or speaking to its founder, Hannah Wilson.
* The nine protected characteristics are: age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex, and sexual orientation.
“Women are powerful. When women come together, we can achieve so much.”
In honour of International Women’s Day, we’ve been talking to some of the inspiring women who are making a difference in Hammersmith. Dr. Christina Konadu is Founder and CEO of the Bassuah Legacy Foundation, a charity working to support single parents and their families in London and Ghana.
What comes to mind when you think of International Women’s Day?When I hear ‘International Women’s Day’, I think of resilience, empowerment and progress. It is a day to honour the contributions of women in every sphere, whether in leadership, community work, education or the home. It reminds us that while we celebrate how far we’ve come, there is still work to do in ensuring equal opportunities for all. As a woman leading a charity, I see first hand the strength of women coming together to support, uplift and create lasting change.
I lost my husband at an early age, which meant I had to raise my children alone. Being a single parent for over 30 years was incredibly tough. In 2015, I had an accident and then needed a major operation in 2016, and then I lost my son soon after the operation.
Life became even more challenging. The pain never goes away; it is something I carry with me every day. But I try to heal myself by supporting others, working hard and turning my pain into purpose.
Through the Bassuah Legacy Foundation, we have made a difference to hundreds of single-parent families, giving them hope, a safe space and meaningful support. Our programmes focus on reducing isolation, empowering women and young people, and helping people re-enter the workforce.
Absolutely. While progress has been made, gender inequality is still deeply rooted in many aspects of society. Women continue to face barriers in leadership, the workplace and even in their personal lives. These barriers are often subtle, such as stereotypes, unequal opportunities or the expectation that women should balance it all without proper support.
In the UK, women remain underrepresented in top corporate roles, the gender pay gap persists, and women often face barriers in industries like finance, tech and politics. I am from Ghana, which has also made progress in women’s representation but still has a long way to go. While it is significant that the current vice president is a woman, true gender equality goes beyond a single leadership position. The fact that the Ghanaian cabinet has only two women highlights the ongoing gap in political representation and decision-making power. Equality means equal participation at all levels, not just symbolic representation.
For single mothers world-wide, the challenges can be even greater. They are often stigmatised, judged, underestimated or left out of opportunities simply because they are raising children alone. This is why organisations like the Bassuah Legacy Foundation are committed to breaking down stereotypes and creating a fairer society where every woman is valued for her contributions regardless of her circumstances.
True gender equality will only be achieved when women and men have the same opportunities, the same respect, the same pay, and the same freedom to make choices without bias or limitation. Until then, we must keep raising our voices, supporting one another and challenging the barriers that still exist.
Many women leaders inspire me, each in different ways. Michelle Obama stands out for her grace, intelligence and dedication to education and women’s empowerment. She has used her platform to advocate for girls’ education, health and leadership, showing that true power comes from lifting others up.
I am also inspired by Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, the Director-General of the World Trade Organization. She is a strong, trailblazing African woman who has broken barriers in global finance and trade, proving that women belong at the highest decision-making tables.
Another remarkable leader is Jacinda Ardern. Her compassionate leadership has set an example of what modern leadership should look like.
On a more personal level, I draw inspiration from everyday women who fight against the odds, such as single mothers, community leaders and grassroots activists. Their resilience, strength and ability to turn pain into purpose remind me of why I do the work I do. These community leaders include Farial Missi at Imperial College, who leads the Agents of Change Women’s Community Leadership Programme, and Sue Spiller at Sobus.
Women leaders inspire me in many ways and their stories remind me that no barrier is too high to overcome.
The Bassuah Legacy Foundation offers a range of support for single-parent families in London and Ghana, including:
The Bassuah Legacy Foundation is always keen to hear from single-parent families who want to be part of the charity, along with other individuals who are interested in volunteering opportunities or who want to support the charity’s work.
Find out more at: www.bassuahlegacy.org or by contacting Christina on WhatsApp on +44 7544 757987.
