The Team

Miriam Lantsbury - Chief Executive

Born in London, Miriam trained as a General Nurse at the Royal London Hospital in Whitechapel. She has a commitment to the local community in Tower Hamlets and has worked in a variety of community settings including Community Nursing, mediation, youth work and as an officer in the Community Health Council.

Miriam was Headway East London’s first employee and has overseen the growth and development of the organisation over the last twelve years. Her inspiration still comes from the people that make up this very special community.

Anthony Bonfil - Director of Services

Tony returned to the UK in 2002 after 15 years working in agricultural research in Australia. He has a degree in Social Sciences and manages the Headway House on a day-to-day basis, giving direction to the other coordinators and driving the development of services. He particularly values helping the people who attend the centre to work on new ways of tackling issues in their lives. These may be financial, family, housing or other benefit problems, all of which can hold back a person’s ability to move on. “Even the smallest improvement means a lot”, he says.

Ben Graham - Psychologist and Discovery Programme Manager

Ben moved to London in 2003 after studying Psychology at the University of Edinburgh. He started as a volunteer at HEL that year and started in a paid post in January 2004. He’s held a number of roles within the organisation, managing and training volunteers and staff, helping to set up HEL’s counselling programme and doing research. He is now working with a team of members on HEL’s new occupational project, the Discovery Programme. Among other things, the teams are working on plans for Hackney’s first Time Bank. “Working at Headway is a thrill. I feel like every day we get to do things nobody’s done before.”

Michelle - Co-ordinator (arts activities)

Michelle moved to London from South Africa in 1999. She volunteered with Headway for 4 years before becoming a team member in 2005. She is an artist who loves to share her passion with others and particularly to see the joy it brings when someone discovers their own creative ability. Headway occupies a special place in her heart. The strong sense of community among both the staff and attenders makes her feel fortunate to be a part of it.

Rupert Spiers - Headway House Manager

Rupert was born in New Zealand, but grew up in Edinburgh before coming to live in London. He has degrees in Psychology, English Literature and IT. Rupert loves working at Headway East London; it remains challenging, surprising and no two days are ever alike. For lunch this week he has mostly been eating cheese sandwiches.

Sandra - Co-ordinator (personal support)

Sandra has always had a keen interest in working with people and has many years experience of working in both the Health and Social Service sectors in Wales. Sandra is looking forward to living and working in London which she is sure will be quite different to the rural area of Wales that she has been used to.

Liz - Administrator

Liz returned to university to study Psychology after having her three children and graduated in 2005. She ensures the smooth running of the centre, answering the phones, chasing invoices, booking transport and welcoming the attenders. She is impressed with how optimistic and happy everyone is at the Headway House - even on Monday morning.

Alex - Music Therapist (part-time)

After a brain injury, people may have difficulty using gestures and words to communicate. Alex helps people to use music to reconnect with themselves and those around them.

He trained at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama and has a degree in Music Therapy from City University.

Nadia - Neuro Physiotherapist

Nadia has been qualified as a physiotherapist for five years. She has always had a keen interest in neurological physiotherapy and finds working in this area the most challenging and the most fun. Nadia works to improve and maintain the attendees’ mobility and movement. She enjoys working at Headway East London as everyone is very keen to improve their ongoing physical goals.

Philippa Paine - Co-ordinator and Volunteer Programme Co-ordinator

Philippa grew up in a Buckinghamshire village but has lived in East London since the late seventies. Over the last twenty odd years, she has raised her two children and worked in various roles in a Jewish community centre, mainly with elderly people. She has volunteered in a variety of settings such as running a youth football club in Hackney and more recently at Crisis UK. At Headway, she is responsible for supporting volunteers and is enjoying the welcoming atmosphere within the centre, getting to know everyone, generally mucking in and learning more about brain injury.

Amanda D’souza - Clinical Lead

Amanda has worked as a Speech and Language Therapist for over 12 years with adults with acquired brain injury and also in mental health. She has worked in hospitals and in the community, and currently works part-time as a Speech and Language Therapist for a regional Community Neurological Rehabilitation Team. She recently completed an MA at UCL in Cognitive Linguistics, with a special interest in Aphasia. Amanda has also worked in emergency housing, and has additional qualifications in Counselling, and in Medical Anthropology.

Amanda is very pleased to be working with Headway East London. Her work involves some advocacy work, and development of peer support and carers support. She used to volunteer for Headway East London before this, and has always enjoyed the sense of community in the centre.

Sarah Kearns - Co-ordinator (members administration)

Sarah joined Headway East London in August 2007. She previously worked for a GP surgery in Bethnal Green as a receptionist and clinic administrator. During this time Sarah volunteered for Headway one morning a week. At Headway Sarah is responsible for practical support such as assisting in the assessment and review process and supporting attenders through advocacy, advice and information provision.

Anja - Yoga Therapist (contract)

Anja joined Headway as a yoga teacher in 2006 and has since been working weekly with several attenders. She teaches yoga to people of all walks of life - at Headway, in gyms and private classes. She has been practising yoga for more than 10 years and has done several trainings and qualifications in yoga [and bodywork]. She is currently studying for a BSc in Ayurvedic Medicine. “The attenders at Headway are enthusiastic and inquisitive and to me they are great teachers. I find it a privilege to share what I have learned in my continuing yogic journey.”

Adina - Exercise Therapist (contract)

Adina has a degree in Health & Fitness and teaches in leisure centres and charities across East London. She enjoys working with people from all walks of life, each with a story to tell. She finds that her clients at the Headway House are really motivated to improve their health and well-being.

Tina - Counsellor

Tina joined Headway in January 2008. After completing her psychology degree she spent 5 years working with adults with learning disabilities and then qualified as a counsellor after finishing her MSc in 2005. She has worked as a psychotherapist in various settings including a GP surgery, private psychiatric hospitals and a charity providing counselling to survivors of abuse. Tina is now fully accredited with the British Association of Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP). At Headway she provides one-to-one counselling, psycho-educational groups and relaxation sessions for attendees. She thoroughly enjoys working at Headway because there is such a warm, positive and relaxed atmosphere.

Christina Nettleford - Outreach Co-ordinator

Christina joined Headway East London in January 2008. After completing a degree in Human Communication Sciences she worked as a Crisis Resolution Worker in Hackney and as a Care Manager at Islington Social Services. Christina works to improve member’s experience of social and wider services and particularly enjoys advocacy work. Every day at Headway is a new challenge - but an exciting one!

Amy Neeb - Family Support Co-ordinator

Amy joined Headway East London in June 2009. She was born and raised in the USA where she trained and worked as a speech and language therapist until moving to London in 2000. Since moving to London she has worked as a carer support worker. She has a keen interest in helping families and carers - providing emotional support, advice and information.

Karen - Family Support Worker (volunteer)

Karen worked as a nursery nurse until she gave up work to have two children. Her husband had a brain injury in 1998 and he has attended Headway every week since 2000. When approached by Headway to help with carers’ support, Karen thought it would be a chance to give something back to Headway for all their support. After experiencing the consequences of brain injury in her family, Karen is keen to help other carers who are going through similar experiences.

Rosalind - Co-ordinator (member IT support)

Rosalind has been working at Headway since November 2008 after an 8 year career in music; teaching, running youth orchestras and freelancing as a percussionist. Ros still enjoys getting people together to make music and has recently taken up the ukulele, which is more tuneful than battering drums. Ros says that Headway is exactly the kind of community she thought could never exist anywhere, let alone in London! She’s particularly enjoying her part in co-production at Headway. “I find everyone so interesting here, I love talking to people and sharing stories and skills.”

Sandra Ma - Community Fundraiser

Born in South London and now living in Hackney, Sandra has been at Headway East London since January 2009. After completing her studies in social science, she has worked and volunteered for numerous national charities and in higher education institutes doing fundraising, events, research and communications. “Since day one I’ve been inspired by the members, volunteers, staff and the continued generosity of our supporters. The talent, creativity and enthusiasm of everyone at Headway is infectious. It truly is a great place to be part of and I love every moment of it”.

Dan Taylor - Co-ordinator (house administration) and Younger Person's Network Co-ordinator

Dan was born in Camberwell - the wrong side of the river - and has been working at Headway East London since November 2008. Since his time here he has learnt a great deal; not just about brain injury but about life itself - including determination, passion, community and friendship. Before Headway he used to correct science textbooks and he has a degree in the History of Ideas. At Headway he is responsible for many aspects of the Headway House administration, including the members transport arrangements, attendance registers and keeping everything stocked up from toilet roll to teabags. He also organises outings for all members, co-ordinates the Young Persons’ Network, and oversees the lunch-making activities at the Headway House.

Silvana - Craniosacral Therapist (contract)

Silvana was inspired to train as a Biodynamic Craniosacral Therapist In 2000. She began working within a primary school treating children with behavioural and emotional difficulties. She has assisted with anatomy training. She has also been involved in treating traumatised survivors of the London bombings and those affected by terrorist attacks. Her practice has grown over the years, and today she works as a supervisor in a clinic for craniosacral therapy students. She has been working for some years at a hospice providing therapy to the terminally ill as well as treating adults with acquired brain injury at Headway East London.

Sarah - Finance Administrator

I walked into Headway House on the day of my interview and my reaction was wow! Everyone seemed so cool and welcoming. I could not tell who were staff and who were attenders. I still get that “wow” feeling each day I come in. The people here are amazing, I feel like I’ve been working here all my life.

Dean Harding - Communications Officer (volunteer)

Dean was injured in 1998 and is passionate about using his experiences to raise awareness of brain injury. He is the only representative on Headway East London’s board who has been an attender and now volunteers for the charity (he hopes more will follow suit). As the Volunteer Communications Officer Dean helps to generate publicity through local newspapers, radio and TV. Dean has ambitious goals and one is to run the 2011 London Marathon, so watch this space!

Matthew McStravick - Timber Wharf Time Bank Co-ordinator

Following a head injury in 2008, Matt became a volunteer this April, initially researching the potential of the skills-exchange network commonly known as ‘time banking’, and it’s relevance to our co-production ethos. He’s now co-ordinating the set up and day-to-day running of the project and is continually inspired, by both members and staff, who thrive under the creative banner that is…Headway East London

Supporting people with an acquired brain injury, their families and carers

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