A ‘Greener Space’ initiative by a Newry support group for brain injury survivors, their families, and carers, ‘The Brain Injury Foundation, has received £1,000 in funding as part of Power NI’s Brighter Communities scheme.
The extra funding has allowed for solar panels to be professionally installed on the roof of the Foundation’s premises on the Newry Road – a move that not only reduces the charity’s carbon footprint but will also allow it to cut down on its day-to-day operating costs.
Launched by a group of survivors, carers and volunteers in 2012, The Brain Injury Foundation has over 100 members from across Newry and Mourne, Armagh, Banbridge and Dungannon, and supports people with all forms of brain injuries, including strokes.
It differs from other charities as it is service user led meaning that almost all the Management Committee are either brain injury survivors or carers, and many of the services are partly or wholly delivered by brain injury survivors or carers to meet tailored needs.
Olive Hawthorne – manager at The Brain Injury Foundation – welcomed the funding from Power NI, saying: “A big thank you to Power NI for supporting us in our ‘Greener Space’ project, which will help us to make a difference to the environment. It will also allow us to reduce our overheads so that we can give more to our members.”
Power NI created the Brighter Communities programme in 2018 and in the intervening period has now donated over £50,000 to groups and projects across Northern Ireland. The scheme was created to assist innovative and emerging community groups, charities, teams, and projects striving to serve their local communities.
Power NI’s Ashleigh O’Neill said: “We are delighted to be able to support The Brain Injury Foundation on their road to energy transition and help them to keep more of their funding for support services for their members.”
Learn more about the services provided by The Brain Injury Foundation.
Find out more on how Power NI is energising local communities.
