PART 1 - GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF THE COMPANY’S ACTIVITIES AND IMPACTIn the space provided below, please insert a general account of the company’s activities in the financial year to which the report relates, including a description of how they have benefited the community. Brain Health Breakthrough CIC services and interventions are a powerful tool enabling people from multiple backgrounds, with multiple needs, to find or regain their place and purpose. As well as providing a space to build mental resilience, social connections, and coping strategies, to positively take control of their lives and fulfil their potential. Previous clients and beneficiaries report improved wellbeing including improved sleep, improved communications and relationships, increased productivity, as well as feeling more self-assured and balanced to improve decision making. The combined support programmes and events have attracted people who are dealing with a wide range of difficulties with a total of 145 people in total from September 2021 - August 2022. 32 of beneficiaries are living with TBI, 38 are unpaid carers and 44 who have long COVID plus 10 who are older isolated people living in the community. We started a new project with 14 children, young people, and family support, plus support for 4 professionals. 103 of our beneficiaries reported having additional health needs. In terms of our diversity breakdown; 102 of our beneficiaries are women, 41 were men, and 33 are from BAME backgrounds.We have delivered weekly support groups for people with brain injury experience who want to build on their self-confidence, positivity, and valued community contribution, alongside peer support, practical strategies, and mindfulness. We have regular attendance in the weekly support group of up to 12 individuals, with additional support through WhatsApp. Professional Practice Support: We have successfully run 1 long-COVID awareness training, from September - December 2021, that has been designed and facilitated to share peer-led and lived experience approaches with a wider audience. We use these to look at innovative and complementary ways to work with the traditional ‘Medical Model’, whilst supporting and empowering people to take active responsibility for their own health and wellbeing. Long-COVID peer support group: Given members of the delivery team have had COVID-19, and are now living with varying side effects and ongoing symptoms, they have been able to create an innovative, needs-led group to respond to those who have been affected by COVID-19. We have continued weekly support through a peer support model for up to 44 people, through group sessions, workshops, and access to relaxation audios/resources. We have received a lot of feedback about how these groups have successfully reduced isolation and been a vital part of coping and recovery for the participants. People connecting and making friendships outside the group. “I find peer support is really good. The long-COVID peer support group has been a lifeline. It makes such a difference to be heard, understood, and validated by people who are going through a similar experience. It has made the experience much less scary. We are able to support each other because we really understand. The group sizes are good - enough people to be able to interact well and share experience, but not too many that it becomes tiring or overwhelming. There is always enough time for everyone to be heard. It is also good that we have WhatsApp and Facebook groups, for in-between sessions, so we can stay in touch and support each other.” One to One Support: Brain Health Breakthrough CIC offers one to one counselling and coaching sessions within certain programmes and also as a stand alone service. They have supported people dealing with a range of difficulties from recovering from injury, substance misuse, dealing with bereavement, domestic abuse, divorce, workplace bullying, loneliness, isolation, and more.

We have scheduled check-ins with Hyndburn and Ribble Valley CVS, who funded long-COVID project. At the end of each project we write an evaluation to report the outcomes. These include detailed case studies, feedback from surveys and focus groups, and lessons learned. Any feedback from Hyndburn and Ribble Valley CVS is fed back into future projects to ensure they are efficient and sustainable. After delivering the successful ‘Train the trainer’ course with Blackburn with Darwen Council, we gathered feedback via a survey which showed the positive feedback felt and the overall impact of the training on participants. We started a new project, The Pegasus Project, where we work with children, young people, and families in the local community. This was funded by the Department of Health & Social Care Suicide Intervention fund. At the completion of the project, we produced a report of the outcomes and we undertook a collection of detailed case studies. This was reported to Hyndburn Council and we liaised with their young team and the local domestic violence hub to utilise the results of the project. We consulted with Blackburn with Darwen Carers Service about our delivery for unpaid carers. We had consultation and feedback, which led us to see that the online support we offered was seen as a vital resource for unpaid carers as we emerged from lockdown and the aftermath of COVID-19. We now only need to offer 1-2-1 support to supplement Council based, in-person support that has re-opened post pandemic.

Directors received total remuneration of £9625

No transfer of assets other than for full consideration