We are a group of like minded individuals who aim to improve the quality of life of all those affected by brain injury. Our work at The Silver Lining aims to engage the brain injured with the wider community in such a way which invigorates, motivates and rehabilitates so they can discover a sense of purpose and added meaning to their lives.

Our aims

• To offer opportunities for improved quality of life for the brain injured, by assisting them to participate in meaningful charitable events and projects.
• To support the brain injured by engaging them in projects which educate the wider community about their condition.
• To increase awareness of brain injury in the community, through presentations by brain injured clients.
• To facilitate and campaign for improved social support for those with brain injury.

To provide a framework for the support of families affected by brain injury and to provide some respite for them.

Following injury, after initial support and sympathy and hopes for rapid recovery begin to recede, significantly more important issues of long term quality of life, a sense of meaning and purpose come to the fore.

The founder of Silver Lining, Dr Sherrie Baehr, has played a leading role in brain injury recovery and rehabilitation over many years. Dr. Baehr is acutely aware of the challenges facing those affected, not just in the initial stages but in the longer term.

Often left with severe cognitive difficulties, victims of brain injury have to face the reality that the prospects for resuming meaningful employment may be limited. Statistics indicated that in the case of severe brain injury only 20% are expected to resume paid employment. Furthermore formerly high achieving clients are often placed in volunteer posts and are left to menial tasks, repetitive tasks consistent with there abilities. Most clients however never lose the desire to be purposeful but are often repeatedly disappointed in their quest to be so.

The challenges don’t end with the clients however and the long term needs of close family members are often overlooked. Relatives need a support mechanism of their own to help them cope with the stress of caring for their loved ones.

The Silver Lining offers hope on multiple levels

• Project based initiatives which bring brain injured clients together with a common goal of helping others more disadvantaged than themselves.
• Monthly meetings to provide a forum for patients and their families to come together to work on positive goals for the future.
• Opportunities for the brain injured to recommence learning and share information.

Education for the wider community about the facts and consequences of brain injury, through client presentations in businesses, schools and churches.

What We Do

We support clients to participate in and to organize charity challenges. This may be for the Silverlining or Silverlining projects explicitly or for charities that have meaning and relevance to their lives and personal experiences. All challenges aim not only to provide great good to the community at large but also to provide the brain injured a context to help themselves through active goal setting and achievement.

Challenges are varied and may fall into the following categories.

1. Sporting
   1. Endurance challenges - running, walking, swimming, gymnastics, cycling
2. Creative
   1. Art Exhibitions - painting, photography, pottery, needlework, video editing, sculpture
   2. Writing
   3. Acting
   4. Choirs
   5. Dancing
3. Social
   1. Movie nights
   2. Curry nights
   3. Bowling nights
   4. Balls
   5. Barn dancing
   6. Coffee mornings
   7. Barbeques
   8. Picnics
   9. Sunday Pub lunch
   10. Singing groups
   11. Dancing groups
4. Educational
   1. Participate in the community to raise awareness of brain injury and its consequences - Police, Schools, GP’s, Churches, community centre’s, small businesses
5. Organised Goodwill Expeditions
   1. Giving back through charitable works at home and abroad
      1. Namibia 2008 - an expedition to help with a local school renovation and projects with the local school children.

Our charity helps to encourage a social support network between the injured, their family members and the wider community. Brain injuries can be very isolating for the injured and their carers. These activities not only raise funds and awareness but also encourage bonds and understanding between the participants helping them to realize that they don’t have to be alone and that there is life beyond their injuries.