CELEBRATION was in the air at a special ceremony which marked the successful completion of a special course by eight local brain injury survivors.

A brain injury can happen to anyone at any time and can have a devastating effect on every aspect of the patient’s life and can put enormous pressure on families.

At the graduation ceremony, held at The Parish Centre at Belmont Abbey, stories of battles with memory loss, tiredness and lack of self-esteem were played back by the “graduates” who had completed the Return to Real Life course.

The course is run by Wye Valley NHS Trust’s Herefordshire Acquired Brain Injury Team (HABIT) and involves regular meetings where the graduates are encouraged to develop strategies to face life with a brain injury. The group also gives a boost to their self-esteem and wellbeing.

“The graduates who took part in this year’s programme received individual support from the team during the six month programme and shared their first hand experiences with other group members whose lives have also been affected by a brain injury,” said Kate Jones from HABIT.

“Our Return to Real Life programme enables people in Herefordshire with a brain injury to have an active voice in designing their own rehabilitation support and recovery programme, with a primary focus on improving quality of life and real 'day to day' living skills following a brain injury.

“Each of those taking part in the course has their own story to tell and it’s been amazing to hear how they can now manage the daily issues many of them have struggled with in the past.”

Among the graduates was Karen Cooper, who baked a special cake for the graduation ceremony.

Cllr Jim Kenyon, former Mayor of Hereford, was the guest of honour and helped cut the cake.

The graduates were congratulated on their success by Lucy Flanagan, the Trust’s director of nursing, and Jane Ives, the Trust’s managing director.

Anyone wanting to find out more about the Return to Life Rehabilitation programme should contact HABIT on 01432 363934.