#ThroughOUREyes

#ThroughOUREyes campaign

In 2021 and 2022, we ran our campaign ‘Through OUR Eyes’.

The campaign sought to give everyone, whether they are the people we support or have supported, a family member, a colleague, a practitioner or a supporter, the chance to tell their own stories and change the narrative for people with complex and challenging disabilities.

‘Through OUR Eyes’ presented a series of focused topics across our service areas, from domestic abuse and the criminal justice system to the innovative neurorehabilitation model we use at Brainkind.

The campaign aimed to raise awareness, spark conversation and allow people to tell their stories. We encouraged participants to get involved on social media using #ThroughOUReyes.

‘Through OUR Eyes’ concluded in June 2022 and covered four topics for four weeks.

Week one: Domestic Abuse

We began Through Our Eyes by launching our new research, looking at domestic abuse practitioners’ understanding of brain injury – highlighting the urgent need for greater awareness regarding brain injury in the domestic abuse sector.

The research was developed in partnership with SafeLivesUK, drawing on data from their frontline services. You can read this in our Publications section: Brain Injury and Domestic Abuse – A Practitioner’s Perception.

Week two: Criminal justice system

We focused on brain injury and the criminal justice system in the second week. We discussed our work with those living with a brain injury in criminal justice settings, such as our Brain Injury Linkworker Service, and our innovative partnership work to increase support in the system.

We also released a powerful new film as part of our new Ask, Understand and Adapt training for health and criminal justice professionals, which you can watch here: Invisible Me – Ask, Understand and Adapt – YouTube.

The campaign also launched new resources, such as our Brain Injury in the Criminal Justice

Evidence Sheet: foundation-evidence-sheet-final.pdf (thedtgroup.org).

Week three: Physical disabilities

The third week of the campaign shone a spotlight on those we support with physical disabilities and the importance of connections with community and friends, and family.

We interviewed those within our services and their loved ones about their experiences accessing care at Brainkind and the community they have found.

Week four: Neurorehabilitation

For the fourth wave of #ThroughOurEyes, we focused on neurorehabilitation and the immense benefits it can bring to someone living with a brain injury.

However, too often, people are discharged from hospital without the care they need in place. Support also varies widely, depending on where they live, meaning many people with an acquired brain injury don’t receive the support they need to navigate the changes they experience in their identity, behaviour, and ability to do everyday tasks.

We work with people and their families to set big and small goals so they can regain their independence. Our specialist support helps people practise everyday skills, like shopping, making meals and getting back to seeing their friends and family.

Conclusion

Through interviews with staff members and those that use our services, we sought to highlight the benefits of neurorehabilitation and draw attention to the high level of unmet need in the UK.

We’d like to thank everyone who contributed to #ThroughOurEyes. If you have any questions about our campaigns, please contact our policy officer Thea Arch.