This is a national charity which works with the victims of head injuries. I worked here for about…read moreeighteen months. Most of us are unaware of how fragile our skulls are; we ride motorbikes, bycycles, drive powerful cars, go quadding and lots of similar things without a thought to the dangers we put our brain in. In my opinion, cyclists are the most ill advised, loads ride a bike without a helmet, skate board nd rollerblade withour protecting their heads. Often those that do wear a hemet, wear them incorrectly. I have massaged the fingers and feet of someone in a permanent vegetative state. He was knocked off his bike by a van. I have hand fed people who are paralysed one side because they were off roading without a helmet. Depending on what part of the brain is damaged, there can be paralysis on one side, loss of speech, epilepsy, loss of memory - partial or complete, loss of cognitive skills. There is always a loss of inhibition - inability to control temper, lack of embarrassment over nakedness or loss of continence. And all the men I have worked with display inappropriate displays of sex drive. If you don't wear a helmet properly, this could be you. I have done speech therapy, physiotherapy, cognitive exercises, played pool, gone bowling, variously with service users.Gosh, that sounds as though they chose to be there! It was heartbreaking. Clients died of pneumonia due to immobility, and brain stem damage. Others regained some sort of very limited independance, others will be forever in a care home although they are still young. Many die later from an embolism. Some commit suicide because their wives divorce them and they have nothing of meaning left. Even those who make a full recovery are left with flashbacks, inability to tolerate loud noise, fatigue and irritability. I know of only one marriage locally that has survived a head injury. The most vulnerable parts of your kull are the frontal lobes (temples and forehead) and the occiput - the curved part at the back. A cycle helmet should protect these parts - dont push a helmet upward. Also the helmet should fit closely with taut straps. If they are loose, you may be choked if you are dragged, or if the helmet is pushed back on impact. Headway works with Specialists to promote rehabilitation and independant living. It needs all the help it can get. Please wear a helmet!

Children in Need is a fantastic charity which does so much for children who have problems in their…read morelives. I certainly think it is good to give to charity and i am impressed at what is achieved by this one. But at times I really wonder what priorities some governments have. While Europe is franticly raising money to give aid to poor countries, India sends rockets into space and develps nuclear science. Yet they have a vast part of their population who live hand to mouth, have unnecessary disease and who die young. I find this shocking to my core, having seen myself unneccessary poverty and disease. So please give to charity, but also petition our Government to do something to shame other countries to get their priorities right.

I give this this two stars for being there…read more Shopmobility is a scheme which allows people with mobility problems to use wheelchairs or motorised 'buggies' while they are shopping in Poole. The last cost I was aware of was a £20 annual fee and 50p per rental. I expect the cost has risen now. I know that in West Quay, Southampton this scheme is free, apart from a tiny deposit when you take the thing you are hiring. I find it appalling that people who have such disabilities have to pay in order to be mobile and feel remotely independant. And then they still have to put up with shops they cannot access, and strange looks from the public. Most people with a severe disability have a restricted income anyway, and I find that having to pay to be mobile is a real insult to them. A tax on illness. I think it must be hard enough to be so impaired in todays society, with so many ill mannered people around, without the condecension of having such a scheme to pay for. Yes, I do feel very strongly about this! We're meant to have a more equal society now, but I find that very far from the truth in lots of ways.

Can't understand why Chrissie gave this 2 stars. Very helpful staff member and husband wouldn't…read morehave been able to negotiate the shopping centre without the scooter! One day membership is £7.50 I know that might sound a lot but I used to manage a Shopmobility service and I know how undervalued this service is by local council!