Ex-soldier John Dougan’s stellar support for brain injury survivors

John Dougan (57, pictured) was involved in a car crash in 1995, while driving from his base at Kirton-in-Lindsey to his home in Maltby.

His broken leg was obvious to doctors - but they could not see his brain injury and for years he struggled silently with a hidden disability.

After retraining as a teacher, John began helping other brain injury survivors to rebuild their lives with the charity Headway Rotherham.

He founded the Peer Support Group, which helps those isolated by brain injuries to reconnect with the world.

John’s dedication has seen him shortlisted for a Stephen McAleese Outstanding Contribution to Headway Award.

“I’m pleased I’ve been able to help people,” he said.

“For me, it’s all about seeing people being happy and able to cope with their new life after brain injury.”

John’s injury left him struggling with fatigue, memory loss and severe headaches \_- but doctors insisted he would be fine once he went home.

“I was alone all day while my former wife was at work, but when she’d ask me what I had done, I couldn’t remember,” he said.

“I forgot to take my medication for my leg. 

“I lay awake at night, then I couldn’t stay awake in the day \_ my life was in constant turmoil.”

John struggled in silence for years before a doctor diagnosed him with a diffuse axonal injury, a widespread tearing of nerve fibres across the brain.

Having discovered a passion for teaching in the army, John enrolled to study technology teaching at Sheffield Hallam University \_ but his injury made learning difficult.

“I was one of the quickest in the workshop because I had more experience, but the theory side of the work took me much longer,” he said.

“It takes me a long time to read, write and organise my thoughts because of my brain injury and I was spending countless hours a week on my studies.

“In my second year, I was taking on school placements, completing assignments and doing days at university. 

“I was permanently fatigued.”

Towards the end of his studies, John discovered brain trauma charity Headway Rotherham.

For the first time, he could talk to other people going through the same struggles as him.

“Up until that point, I had felt alone,” said John. “Then I suddenly discovered there was a whole community of people in Rotherham living with brain injury \_ it was enlightening.

“There were a lot of people who had it worse than me, who would never be able to return to work, with more physical limitations.”

John, who now lives in Kimberworth, realised he could support other survivors thanks to his teacher training and life experience \_- and the Peer Support Group was born.

“Some people had been living with the effects of their injury for 20 years, and they were still struggling to reintegrate into society,” said John.

“Some were afraid even to attend Headway Rotherham and I realised they probably weren’t socialising with anyone else at all.”

He added: “We’ve had some real success stories. 

“Some people were effectively housebound when they first came, because they were so reluctant to go outside. But as they’ve grown in confidence they have totally changed.”

Award-winners will be announced at a ceremony in The Dorchester Hotel in London on December 7.