The Brain Charity

Born with cerebral palsy, dyslexia, and dyspraxia, Sophia has always understood what it means to overcome barriers. But after years of major surgeries interrupted her education and career plans, it was The Brain Charity that helped her rebuild her confidence, and inspired her to help others do the same. 

Sophia, from Liverpool, first became involved with The Brain Charity around ten years ago when she took part in one of the charity’s confidence courses, the predecessor to today’s Value of You programme. 

She stayed in touch with staff over the years, but after a lengthy stay in hospital, she returned to The Brain Charity looking for support with her rehabilitation. 

She said: 

“The Brain Charity has been a huge part of my journey. It gave me somewhere to focus on my recovery, meet new people, and rebuild my confidence. I honestly don’t think I’d be where I am today without it.” 

Growing up with disability 

Sophia, who is a wheelchair user, says she was fortunate to grow up in a supportive family where she was never treated differently. 

She said: 

“I’m one of six children, and growing up at home, I never felt left out. My family always encouraged me to do whatever I wanted to do.” 

It wasn’t until she started school that she became aware of the barriers disabled people can face. 

Although she attended supportive mainstream schools, she found it increasingly difficult to socialise as she got older because accessible support often separated her from her peers. 

She said: 

“That was when I first realised I was different. Sometimes the support that was there to help also made it harder to build friendships because you were separated from everyone else.” 

Finding confidence through drama 

Despite those challenges, drama became a constant throughout Sophia’s life. 

She discovered a love of performing from a young age and went on to study Drama before completing a second degree in Inclusive Teaching. 

She said: 

“Drama gave me a way to express myself, connect with other people and show what I was capable of. It became a huge part of who I am.” 

Her education wasn’t straightforward. 

During her first degree, Sophia became seriously unwell and required major surgery. Although there were times when continuing her studies felt impossible, she was determined not to give up. 

With the support of her family, she completed her degree before later studying Inclusive Teaching alongside her sister. 

Further surgeries and complications followed, delaying her plans to begin work. Instead, she continued studying, completing Master’s modules before eventually finishing her dissertation after another lengthy recovery. 

She said: 

“Studying gave me something to focus on other than pain. Education genuinely helped keep me going through some of the hardest times in my life.” 

Rebuilding after surgery 

Following another long hospital stay, Sophia returned to The Brain Charity to continue her rehabilitation. 

She became one of the first clients to use the Neuro Gym and says it played an important role in helping her regain confidence. 

She later volunteered in the gym and also worked with the charity’s employability team, where her coach, Scott, introduced her to an entrepreneurial course after learning about her ambition to create courses that support disabled people. 

Alongside this, Sophia completed personal confidence coaching with Karen and Mandy through the Value of You project. 

She said: 

“Karen, Mandy and Scott have all encouraged me to believe in my own abilities. They helped me realise that I already had skills that could benefit other people.” 

Bringing people together through drama 

Those conversations led to an exciting new opportunity. 

Drawing on her background in drama and education, Sophia worked with other clients she met through Value of You to create The Brain Charity’s weekly drama group, which launched in March 2026. 

The group meets every Wednesday and provides a welcoming space where people can build confidence, develop communication skills, and make new friends through creative activities. 

Sessions include drama games, improvisation, character development, and performance exercises, while also exploring themes such as communication and how neurological conditions can affect how people express themselves. 

Sophia said: 

“The group is all about bringing people together. Drama helps people build confidence, express themselves, and connect with others in a safe and supportive environment. I love seeing people come out of their shells. Watching everyone’s confidence grow has been incredibly rewarding.” 

Giving back 

Today, Sophia continues to volunteer across The Brain Charity, supporting events throughout the year while leading the drama group each week. 

She also played an important role in improving the Neuro Gym’s accessibility, helping shape plans to install a hoist so more people could benefit from the service. 

Looking back over the past decade, Sophia says The Brain Charity has become much more than somewhere she receives support. 

She said: 

“The Brain Charity feels like family to me. I’ve met amazing people here, gained so much confidence, and found a place where I can use my own experiences to help others. Without The Brain Charity, I’d honestly be lost. There’s nowhere else quite like it, and I’m excited to keep helping more people discover what they’re capable of.”