THE STUDENTS with acquired brain injuries I have just met at Heart of Worcestershire College can’t wait to get in the gym.

It is part of their personalised learning programme to help improve their health, confidence, skills, social networks and assist their general rehabilitation.

Some of them have suffered strokes, had tumours, some have been in car accidents or had falls, others are epileptic or were injured as a result of an assault. There is a range of reasons why they have sustained a brain injury.

But the common thread that links them all is that the course they are doing at the college is helping to transform their lives and they love participating in it.

The Heart of Worcestershire College has been offering courses for adults with acquired brain injuries for about 12 years and currently has 50 students aged from 20 to 70 attending its Acquired Brain Injury or Ability course as it is known. The course is accredited by NOCN (previously the National Open College Network - a leading awarding organisation that has been creating opportunities for students and learners for over 25 years.

Debbie Morris, former nurse and lead tutor for Ability in Worcester says the college is committed to providing these courses at a time when other colleges are cutting back.

She says: “We really believe people should come to college and we will do everything we can to enable them to come. The principle here is very committed to it but some colleges are cutting these courses because budgets are being cut.

“Some of those who attend have had strokes, have been assaulted, had a brain infection or a road traffic accident. We usually get referrals from the hospital, Headway and the Stroke Association but people can self refer.”

Debbie explains that having a brain injury can be devastating to people as they lose the life they were used to. “Some people who come have had a fantastic job, families and children and they lose it all when they have the brain injury.

“Some of them have had a massive stroke and cannot get out of their front door. The big thing they struggle with is memory, processing how to do things and confidence. Also some of them have a lot of pain and it is hidden because they don’t show it.”

Each learning programme is tailored to the individual, who takes every step at their own pace to achieve individual goals. They receive close and caring support to help them to progress onto supported employment or independent living if appropriate and a team of learning support assistants are on hand to accompany learners throughout their time at the college.

The students work towards skills in English, maths, IT, art and crafts, communications, personal skills (such as healthy living) and vocational areas, such as catering, horticulture or enterprise.

Debbie adds: “Some go on to do voluntary work, some into paid work and for some it is about building confidence and self esteem and independence.

“We have people coming to the college from Malvern, Kidderminster, Worcester and Norton. Some are doing local history, some do cookery, crafts, arts, horticulture and agriculture. We adapt the programme according to people’s needs.”

A group of them are going for a session in the University of Worcester gym in Castle Street, which I remember well as the former Outpatients Department of Worcester Royal Infirmary and is now a bright, airy and well equipped gym.

Debbie gives everyone a quick health check and a few words of advice about not pushing themselves beyond recommended levels. This is followed by some warm up exercises.

Each student was assessed at the start of their course to see how much they can do and where they need to improve or gain strength.

Steve Lay, aged 48, from Barbourne, Worcester, who has epilepsy and also had an accident at work which compounded things, says: “When we start the day we have a quiz to wake up the brain and get the memory going. It is also good for confidence and is a motivation to come to the gym.

“It has helped a great deal coming here. I have made a lot of new friends which helps with the social side and that’s good. I am concentrating on certain exercises to lose weight and strengthen certain parts of my body.”

Debbie says: “The gym is great because it is a shared facility with the university students. The exercises use both sides of the brain which is good. They have really done well and they are really independent now.”

Former classroom assistant Brenda Harvey, aged 62, of Worcester, who suffered a brain injury says: “If it was not for the course I would have nothing. I would have no social life.

“I love it. I come three days a week. I love it to death. If I was not here I would be at home twiddling my thumbs. I was pretty fit but I had to give up my job as a classroom assistant.”

Some of the group in the gym also do other activities like horticulture, agriculture and animal husbandry at Top Barn Farm near Holt Heath.

I go to see another group on the course which is doing art. The tutor Linda Walker says they are her favourite students.

She says: “They each start with still life drawing and then we cater to them as individuals. One student had not done art since he was at school but he is absolutely brilliant.”

“They learn how to mix colours and how to paint and they learn about perspectives. They progress onto the different stages and they are a great group to teach.”

Some of them have to learn to draw and paint with their non dominant hand because they have lost the use of their dominant side due to their brain injury. It’s a test of concentration but one they are prepared to undertake.

And one of the students sold her first painting last week in the Cathedral while others have gone on to do a foundation course in art, says Linda.

Debbie adds: “For some people to come to the programme is a miracle because of the help they need to get here but the attendance is fantastic. When we had the floods last year and New Road was closed to traffic we have got students who walked over on their crutches. They are a fantastic bunch and they are truly inspirational.”

For more information about Worcester Ability courses visit http://www.wortech.ac.uk/course/3214/ability-acquired-brain-injury or ring Debbie Morris on 01905 725542.