Registered charity number: 1159973
MATRIX Neurological provides practical help and vital support to children, young people and their families who are living with the effects of an acquired brain injury.
MATRIX Neurological is a lived-experience led registered charity established by people that have first-hand experience of childhood acquired brain injury. That personal experience means they have a real understanding of acquired brain injuries and the complex ongoing effects it has on learning and everyday life; such as the difficult adjustment back into ‘normal’ life; the impact on every family unit; the negative effect it has on a child’s academic studies; and the long-term negative health effects that result from a lack of understanding as well as in-effective and uncoordinated support services.
Donations to Matrix Neurological, including old cars, will help to fund their innovative services; ensuring that children and young people have better long-term outcomes. Their services make a real difference to those with an acquired brain injury.
Acquired brain injury is the biggest cause of death and disability in children and young people in the UK; yet it is the least understood, least recognised and least supported disability. There is currently very little public awareness, understanding or provision for children and young people who are recovering from an acquired brain injury, which can have a huge impact on their future health, education and social needs. In turn this influences their long-term physical, emotional, psychological and economic well-being.
The real difference Matrix makes is quantifiable. For children, good neuro-rehabilitation helps to reduce the impact of the injury through restoration of damaged function, or compensation for lost function. This helps to optimise physical, cognitive, psychological and social function and means that these young people are more likely to have a better recovery and improved life chances.
The graph below shows the cognitive ability of a young person who sustained a life-changing severe traumatic brain injury when aged 14. Three years later they commenced their interventions and over a period of two years MATRIX provided non-clinical activities that delivered significant improvements. Incredibly this young person was able to attend college and gain a City & Guilds qualification; which would have been unattainable without MATRIX support.
The impact on parents is also significant and families experience high levels of emotional distress. It is not uncommon for parents of brain injured children to be diagnosed with PTSD resulting from their child’s life-changing disability. For parents and carers Matrix Neurological’s support helps to reduce their levels of anxiety and distress and they feel less isolated. Basically, the charity looks after parents – so they can care for their child.
One family said:
“When you leave hospital you’re on your own; and every day is a worry and a challenge. Matrix Neurological helps in a big way and their support has been never ending”.
Matrix Neurological’s innovative services ensures appropriate care and support is provided to help maximise a child or young person’s ongoing recovery; reduce long term inequalities; and gives these children and young people a much brighter future.
Your old car donation with Charity Car will help Matrix Neurological to run its Family Support Service, which manages and coordinates the needs of the whole family.
