A NATIONAL charity for people who have sustained brain injuries is setting up a base in Redditch.

Headway North East Worcestershire is an informal support service for people who have acquired a non-degenerative brain injury since birth, and also offers help to carers of those with injuries.

The move into Redditch and Bromsgrove comes after health, social services and voluntary sector staff identified a gap in services in the area.

The new service will be open to people between the ages of 18 and 64 and will take referrals from health and social services.

Once up and running, the new service will offer social and leisure activities for those with brain injuries, provide information and act as a forum for carers to share their concerns.

The charity's Redditch base will be at the Halcyon Centre in Easemore Road, and the organisation is currently advertising for a senior co-ordinator for the Redditch and Bromsgrove area.

In the meantime Headway committee member Linda Albon, from Redditch, got fund-raising under way when she took part in a charity abseil.

The daring feat was all the more impressive as Linda has paralysis of her left side due to a brain injury.

Headway spokesman Sally Woodget said: "The abseil was an extremely brave undertaking for Linda and I have to add that for Linda to take part she had to climb up a hill with an extremely rough surface which was extremely challenging for her."

For more details about Headway, call 570530