The Children's Trust

I know how suddenly life can change after a brain injury. One moment everything’s fine – and then it’s not.

It was a difficult road to recovery for me after my own much-publicised accident in 2006 and much tougher for my family. But I’ve been extremely lucky; some brain injuries can leave a person needing constant care and long term rehabilitation.

When a child suffers a brain injury, it’s devastating for the whole family. Thankfully The Children’s Trust is there to help children make the best recovery they can, and to help their families support them in the long term.

I’m proud to be a Vice President of this amazing charity – I’ve seen how they help children and young people rebuild their lives. Please give them you support too.

Every parent hopes their child will be healthy and live a life free from serious injury or illness. Sadly, those expectations are sometimes shattered. Some children are severely injured or become seriously ill. Others are born with severe disabilities. The Children’s Trust is there to help as many of these children and their families as possible.

The Children’s Trust is the UK’s leading charity for children with brain injury. Each year they support thousands of children, young people and families from every corner of the country.

Each year around 40,000 children suffer a brain injury. Many are injured on the roads while others are affected by a near-drowning accident, a brain tumour or meningitis. While most of these children will make a full recovery, thousands will be left with lifelong difficulties that require specialist help.

At their national specialist centre in Tadworth, Surrey, The Children’s Trust provides rehabilitation, education and nursing care for children and young people with a brain injury from all over the UK. They also provide direct support and online advice to children and families.

With your help, The Children’s Trust can reach even more children and help them live the best life possible after a brain injury.

Mother of three, Ann-Marie Quinlan faced her worst nightmare last year, when she found her son Charlie floating face down in the pool, whilst on a family holiday in Spain. Despite trying to resuscitate him on the way to hospital, Charlie suffered a lack of oxygen to the brain, which left him with a severe brain injury.

Ann-Marie said, “He was blue, he wasn’t breathing. We pulled in to accident and emergency. I just remember jumping out and screaming someone help my baby”.

Having spent weeks in a foreign hospital, Ann-Marie and Charlie finally made it home to the UK, but it was clear that Charlie had sustained severe injuries to his brain. His future was uncertain, which added extra emotional stress for Ann-Marie and the rest of the family at an already distressing time.

Ann-Marie said, “We didn’t know if he’d ever speak or eat or talk or anything, you know, we just didn’t know, nobody could give you any answers, and it was really, really lonely”.

When Ann-Marie heard about The Children’s trust, she knew that this would be a positive step for both Charlie’s rehabilitation as well as helping the rest of the family care for him in the future.

She said, “The Children’s Trust is an amazing place. I’ve learned a lot so when we go home, we’ll be ok”.

Tom Bedwell was like any other teenager at the age of 17 and setting his sights on finishing his college education. Tragically, he was involved in a road traffic accident one day, which resulted in significant injuries.

Tom’s Grandfather Vic said, “I just though oh my god, please don’t die Tom, this is not real, please don’t let this happen”.

After spending weeks in hospital, Tom began to show signs of improvement but the at the same time the full extent of Tom’s injuries were also becoming a realisation.

Vic said, “Oh, I couldn’t believe it, I though god he’s gonna survive but then you don't know whether he’s blind or if he’s ever gonna speak again, or be able to swallow or he’s gonna be completely, you know...”

Thankfully Vic had been told about The Children’s Trust and their residential rehabilitation centre in Tadworth. With the help of The Children’s Trust’s staff and facilities, Tom walked out of the centre unaided. A level of recovery that he never thought that he’d achieve.

Tom said, “They’ve definitely given me back my life, I didn’t think I’d be able to do anything like this. Everything I thought I wouldn’t be able to do I’m doing, because of The Children’s Trust”.