THE frustration, anger and despair of people who struggle to cope with the aftermath of head injury are being tackled by a North West charity.

Headway, based at Hope Hospital, Salford, is part of a UK charity but is also a charitable body in its own right.

It is dedicated to the care and re-integration of head injured people into the community.

The vice chairman of Salford Headway, which helps families throughout Greater Manchester, is Erle Taylor who, at the age of 18, was involved in a car smash which robbed him of his memory.

Erle, like most of the head injured in the area, was treated in the neurosurgical unit at Hope Hospital, one of the country's leading centres. "When I came round I had no recollection of who I was and my memories of the 18 years were those which my family and friends gave me," he said.

"I was functioning as an automaton and it was my mother's need to make sense of what was going on with me which first introduced me to Headway.

"The physical needs of head injured people are addressed by physiotherapy, but the psychological effects of their injuries are often neglected because they are unseen.

"For each individual the extent of injury is something which they and their family must learn to cope with."

Even now the 27-year-old from Eccles has to write everything down so he remembers the points he wants to get across.

"I even write down in the corner of each page in my diary to take my medication for the epilepsy which I now suffer from as a result of the accident."

There are more than 100 people who are members of Salford Headway, representing all age groups and with a wide range of brain injury which has varying effects on each member's life.

Eighteen months ago the charity hired a part time social worker to work with patients and relatives in the hospital and in their homes. "It is up to the people themselves. If they want us we're here, but obviously we'll do no good barging into people's lives," said Erle.

"Personally, the group has been a lifeline and has given me a real boost."

Members of Headway are drawn from towns such as Bolton and Wigan who draw help and support from each other and are given advice on the best way of coping with a disability which, for many, will be with them for the rest of their lives.

A new book has now been written which is aimed at helping people to deal with the trauma of head injury.

"Living With Head Injury" is a joint venture between Dr Wolfgang Schady, a consultant neurologist at Manchester Royal Infirmary, neuro psychologist Martin van den Brork and solicitor Martin Coyne.

Anyone interested in finding out more about Headway should contact the group on 0161 787 4546. The office is based at Hope Hospital, Salford.

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