As a member of the United Kingdom Acquired Brain Injury Forum and working closely with the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Acquired Brain Injury, we are proud to hear of Chris Bryant MP being awarded a knighthood, in part for his work with brain injury and melanoma charities.
In 2017, Chris became chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Acquired Brain Injury where he was instrumental in the launch of the ‘Acquired Brain Injury and Neurorehabilitation: Time for Change’ report. Since the launch of the report, we have seen a Time for Change Wales report as well as many debates within the House of Commons and wider.
With the determination of Chris to make a difference for others, Chris put forward a Private Members Bill for acquired brain injury which resulted in the announcement that an Acquired Brain Injury Strategy would be developed by the Government. The strategy seeks to involve a broad range of government departments from across the UK, reflecting the complexity and breadth of issues which face those who have suffered from a brain injury and their families.
Working with Chris and the many charities who support children and adults affected by acquired brain injury has been a privilege. From welcoming Chris to the Royal London Hospital to see the difference we make in partnership with the trauma and rehab teams, to the impact we have in the West Midlands in partnership with Birmingham Children’s Hospital, we have been able to showcase the difference that partnership working makes in the journey of rehabilitation for children after injury or illness.
We believe that shining a light on childhood acquired brain injury has helped galvanise the work being carried out by Chris in drawing attention to the educational support needs of children. Having Chris lead on this important work will be instrumental in impacting the change we hope and believe will occur through the Acquired Brain Injury Strategy.
On behalf of children, young people and families affected by childhood acquired brain injury across the UK, we would like to congratulate Chris Bryant MP for all the work he has done, and for the recognition he has received for this important work.
We look forward to working with Chris and the many families and charities supporting children affected by acquired brain injury in the development of this important strategy and look forward to its publication this year.
Lisa Turan, CEO (Child Brain Injury Trust)