Brains Matter is a charitable social enterprise based in West Kent supporting adults who have been affected by brain injury, either as a result of an accident or illness such as a stroke, brain tumour or hemorrhage. It provides a community wellbeing service including bespoke one to one support and community wellbeing support groups offering a social opportunity to meet with others, gain support and access information and advice. It also provides an activity centre, in the heart of Tunbridge Wells, offering a safe and friendly environment for those living with the effects of brain injury to spend time in a relaxed setting to socialise with others who may share similar experiences and to participate in stimulating and varied activities.
Brains Matter is the only charity in the area that supports people who have experienced an acquired brain injury. Charity funding is increasingly difficult to get, especially for less ‘popular’ causes such as ours. Working with CAF has been amazing, the CAF team have been really helpful and clearly understand how hard it is for charities at the moment. Support from CAF has allowed us to manage our cashflow and look at developing new services.
Challenge
Brains Matter is the only specialist organisation of its type to provide dedicated neuro-rehabilitation support to adults with head injuries in the West Kent region. It’s estimated that a brain injury patient requires on average a minimum of 3-4 weeks of rehabilitation and continuing care once recovered from the trauma. This is an essential part of the process to help the brain learn alternative ways of working in order to minimise the long-term impact of the brain injury and cope with any remaining disabilities.
The Kent Public Health Observatory produced a report that found West Kent CCG has one of the highest rates of traumatic brain injury admissions in the region with 320 admissions per 100,000 population. Therefore, Brains Matter has a consistent demand for its services and a waiting list of prospective clients.
Solution
Over the pandemic period, the organisation lost its revenue from the day centre and in-person drop-ins. To avoid disruption of service to its clients, it quickly pivoted to an online (Zoom-based) activity model and continued to pay staff and operate through this time. There was a token fee of £1 charged for the online sessions.
Post-pandemic, many past clients did not return to the centre due to hospitalisation or illness. Brains Matter experienced a reduced rate of success with grant bids in the post-pandemic period. The organisation has shared that there are less grant funds available (especially through the local authority) than in previous years.
In 2020, the organisation raised only £25k of income from grants, donations, and legacies, compared to £130k in 2019. Brains Matter has had to use its unrestricted reserves in the years since the pandemic to sustain its activity.
Revenue
18% of income comes from restricted sources (grants), and the remaining 82% of income is from the direct payments for services to clients and patients.
Impact
The working capital has enabled Brains Matter to:
• Increase the frequency of drop-in sessions across West Kent as well as offering ad-hoc telephone support services.
• Increase available places at the Tunbridge Wells activity centre due to the promotional and networking activities it is now able to do.
• Employ a new Community Wellbeing member of staff, now providing 25-hour support to clients. It has a waiting list of clients with a need for an additional 12 hours of weekly support and is looking to employ a further part-time member of staff to cover the additional hours.
• Launch a new Employment Support Service supporting a number of people with voluntary, paid employment and start up small businesses. It has seen a great improvement in people’s health, self-esteem and confidence.
CAF made the investment as Brains Matter works with some of the most vulnerable people in West Kent, providing an essential service in a supportive environment. We were impressed with the quality of governance and management in place. The Board of Trustees is deeply engaged with the organisation and it is driven by a desire to cater for the evolving needs of its clients and has pivoted as a result of the pandemic.