“I get so much out of doing activities and socials with survivors. It means everything when you hear them laugh or see them enjoying themselves,” says a Washington woman who’s dedicated her life to helping people with brain injuries.

Selfless charity worker Kim Hunter, 58, from Washington, supports brain injury survivors and their families across Wearside through Headway Wearside.

Kim has been described as the beating heart of Headway Wearside | Submitted

placeholder image — Kim has been described as the beating heart of Headway Wearside | Submitted

Now, Kim is in life for a national award for her decades of care in the sector.

Each year, Headway UK holds an awards ceremony celebrating the achievements and contributions of brain injury survivors, carers, volunteers, and others in the Headway community across the country.

Kim, Business and Community Development Manager at Headway Wearside, started her career in the charity sector in 1989 and set up a brain injury group in 2006.

She then began volunteering at Headway Wearside in 2009 when they launched.

In 2012, Kim was appointed to the position of Business and Community Development Manager, and has been integral in organising therapies, activities, Christmas meals, lunch clubs, fundraising and events.

During the COVID pandemic, Headway Wearside operated remotely throughout, with Kim organising food parcels and activity packs for Headway members across Sunderland and surrounding areas, in a bid to combat social isolation.

Kim was also recently involved in a large fundraiser at STACK Seaburn, in Sunderland, where over £4,000 was raised for the charity.

These achievements and more have led to Kim becoming one of just three finalists for the Extra Mile Award, sponsored by Irwin Mitchell, which will be presented by Headway UK, at its grand luncheon on December 12 at London’s five-star Royal Lancaster hotel.

Kim was put forward for the award by Headway Wearside Chair, Paul Brown.

Paul said: “I’ve known Kim for over 15 years and throughout that time she has dedicated her life to supporting Headway Wearside members and brain injury survivors and their families across the region.

“Kim is an unsung hero who goes above and beyond for members.

“She is the beating heart of Headway Wearside and has been the key reason we have managed as a charity to firstly survive, then expand the services we provide and now move into our new premises at Washington Millennium Centre.”

Kim said she is delighted to be up for the award, adding: “I was really shocked when Paul said I’d been nominated and shortlisted- to be shortlisted out of so many amazing people took me by surprise.

“It’s fantastic to be nominated in the first place, and I feel really privileged.

“I love working with service users and carers; it’s all about them and for them. I get so much out of doing activities and socials with survivors. It means everything when you hear them laugh or see them enjoying themselves.”

Winners for the Headway Annual Awards will be announced on Friday, December 12 at The Royal Lancaster in London.