We were thrilled to welcome our new and existing Legal Support Service partners to an in-person afternoon of connection and collaboration over at 3PB Chambers in Birmingham exactly a week ago.
This informal gathering marked a great milestone in our charity’s journey, as we shared insights into the repositioning of our services and the important role our legal partners play in supporting children and families affected by childhood ABI.
We simply could not provide the essential scaffolding that’s needed for our families without their support. Therefore, our aim for the afternoon was clear: to ensure our legal support partners are fully informed of our vision, mission, and the evolving services we offer. Because, together, we can make a life-changing difference.
Welcoming our Legal Support Panel
The event began with a warm welcome from Emma Harpur, CIBT’s Legal Support Partnership Manager, who set the tone for the afternoon with her dedication to fostering collaboration and unity among our partners. Emma’s introduction was followed by a welcome address from our CEO, Lisa Turan, who introduced the charity’s ambitious five-year plan, before handing over to Dr. Sharon Buckland, our new Head of Brain Injury Service. Sharon shared her professional journey so far, and her plans of expanding integrated care and evidence-led innovation for our support network.
A deeply moving moment came when we heard from Louise, whose son, Mason, was struck by a stolen van in a devastating incident that left him with a temporal and parietal brain bleed, midline shift, and skull fracture. Louise shared her emotional journey from trauma and uncertainty to resilience and hope.
No eyes were left dry in the room as she remembered that moment in 2024, when she met CBIT’s ABI Coordinator, Sarah Pearce, for the first time:
“Sarah was the FIRST and ONLY person to tell me I wasn’t doing this alone, and I really felt like she meant that in her words.”
Her story is an incredibly powerful reminder of why our work, support, and partnerships matter so deeply.
We continued with an introduction by our passionate Community Inclusion and Virtual Support Manager, Sharon Machin. Sharon brought to life the heart of what we do, from crisis support to community integration. Following this, our Educational Service Manager, Dalia Chowdhury, offered an insight into our growing training portfolio, highlighting how our education resources help bridge the gap between clinical support and real-world understanding for schools and professionals.
Partnerships that truly make a difference
The afternoon concluded with a forward-looking presentation from Fiona Kenny, Head of Case Management at our joint venture partner, Bush & Co. Kids. Fiona shared how Bush & Co. Kids work alongside families following life-changing injuries, helping to coordinate the clinical, educational, and practical support needed for long-term recovery. Their holistic and child-focused approach echoes our own values, offering families not just care but clarity, compassion, and continuity when they need it most.
We are pleased to say that this afternoon successfully forged stronger and deeper relationships with our partners who help us lift families up when their world has changed in an instant. Thank you to everyone who attended, listened, shared, and committed to walking alongside us. With your continued support, we are elevating families and enriching futures, one child at a time.
Strengthening Legal Support Across the UK
As part of our service repositioning, we are proud to showcase the newly restructured Legal Support Service, designed to ensure that families affected by childhood-acquired brain injury can access high-quality, local legal guidance wherever they are in the UK. Our expert Regional Partners support families with compassion, clarity, and specialist knowledge.
Legal Support Service Regional Partners:
- London: CL Medilaw, Bolt Burdon Kemp, Moore Barlow Lawyers, and Hodge Jones & Allen Solicitors
- South of England – Southampton: Serious Injury Law and Moore Barlow Lawyers
- South of England – Thames Valley: Moore Barlow Lawyers
- South West: Enable Law and Fieldfisher
- West Midlands: Anthony Collins Solicitors and Serious Injury Law
- East Midlands: FBC Manby Bowdler Solicitors and Serious Injury Law
- Yorkshire & Humberside – Leeds: Leigh Day Lawyers and Lime Solicitors
- Yorkshire & Humberside – Sheffield: Sintons LLP
- North West – Liverpool: JMW Solicitors LLP
- North West – Manchester: HCC Solicitors
- North East: Burnetts Solicitors LLP and Sintons LLP
- East of England: Ashtons Legal, Serious Injury Law, and Slater + Gordon Lawyers
- Wales: Hugh James
- Scotland: Anderson Strathern
Each of our partners brings a wealth of specialist experience and a shared commitment to the values we hold dear: integrity, compassion, innovation, and reflection. Together, we are building a more robust, accessible network to help families navigate the legal complexities that often follow a childhood-acquired brain injury.
