'Brain injury charity helped open my world again'

A woman recovering from two seizures has said her world has "opened" again after a charity helped her return to climbing.

Former playgroup worker Amanda Mallett, from Birmingham, said she used to go rock climbing two or three times a month before her seizures in 2016.

Since her illness, she has suffered with weakness down one side of her body and believed she would not be able to climb again.

But an initiative from brain injury charity Headway Birmingham and Solihull meant she has been able to take up the sport she loves again, climbing at Redpoint Climbing Centre about once a month.

"It was something that I didn't think I would ever be able to do again," she told BBC Midlands Today, "there are quite a few things I can't do anymore."

"Being given the opportunity to come here and practise climbing has opened my world again."

Ms Mallett is one of a number of people with acquired brain injuries supported by Headway, which runs the climbing sessions at Redpoint twice a month.

Stephen Lynch, 51, was injured when he was hit by a car when he was 10 years old and has attended the sessions run by the charity.

"I enjoy it. It gives you great pleasure – the achievement of reaching the top," he said.

The initiative has been funded by Sport England but the money is due to run out in the near future and Headway has been appealing for support to help continue the service.

Sarah Wood, of Headway, said: "Following a brain injury, people can struggle with stamina, with fatigue and co-ordination.

"All of those things can be helped by the climbing environment."

Philip Minal, of Redpoint Climbing Centre, said he could see the progress people made when they attended as part of the scheme.

"They get better motor function, get good problem-solving skills and it increases their confidence as well," he added.

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