Ipswich Brain Injury Solicitor runs free advice clinic

Posted 11/06/2012

Ashtons Legal – an Ipswich law firm that specialises in brain injury – is running a free drop in advice clinic for carers of brain injured relatives and friends during Carers’ Week (June 18 – 24, 2012). The clinic will be held on Friday June 22nd from 10.00am – 4.00pm at the Tower Ramparts Shopping Centre, Ipswich Town Centre. It is part of an event organised by LimeSkills Community Interest Company and other stands will also be there.

Carers of brain injured people are invited to drop in for free legal advice without any obligations. General information and signposting to the other local services will also be available. While there, carers are eligible to enter a draw to win a spa break for two which can be taken at one of 50 spas across the UK.

“When someone suffers a brain injury, it is often a family member who steps up to the challenge of caring for their injured loved one,” says a brain injury solicitor at Ashtons Legal. “The role of a brain injury carer is demanding and life-changing, but often help is available in terms of funding, guidance and support,” she explains. “We work in the best interests of the whole family, not just the brain injured individual, and we can advise carers about the opportunities that may be available to them.”

Ashtons Legal is a member of the Brain Injury Group which devised the idea of the drop in clinics as part of its support of Carers’ Week 2012. “Brain injuries can have a devastating effect on the whole family, which is why it’s so important they receive the right legal advice and support services to help them manage the years ahead,” says Sally Dunscombe, co-founder and director of the Brain Injury Group.

“Our theme for Carers’ Week 2012 is ‘In Sickness and in Health’ and will highlight the impact of caring on carers’ health and well-being,” says Helen Clarke, Manager of Carers’ Week. “Worrying about how you are going to cope financially causes carers stress and anxiety – some carers have to leave their work or reduce hours and the purchasing of specialist equipment and paying for house adaptations can also be costly. It is essential that carers get the right advice and support”, she explains.

The Brain Injury Group can help where there is a compensation case to answer by freeing up funds to help pay for the necessary care. Brain injury cases can take years to resolve, but the Brain Injury Group solicitors are skilled at securing interim payments to help ease the financial burden while the case continues. They also provide information and signposting to appropriate services for all people affected by brain injury, regardless of whether there is a claim. In addition to the clinics, the Brain Injury Group is publishing a carers’ microsite including advice articles, FAQs and signposting services at: www.braininjurygroup.co.uk/carers.

For more information about the Brain Injury Group contact: Katherine Selby, PR Workshop, 020 8657 4422, Katherine@prworkshop.co.uk

About Carers’ Week
Carers’ Week celebrates the UK’s 6.4 million unpaid carers. It is a partnership of eight national charities: Age UK, Carers Trust, Carers UK, Independent Age, Macmillan Cancer Support, Marie Curie Cancer Care, MS Society and Parkinson’s UK. This year the campaign is being sponsored by Sainsbury’s and Skills for Care/Skills for Health. For more information visit: www.carersweek.org