Support for stroke survivors in Guernsey has been given a boost by having the UK’s leading stroke charity, now having an active presence in the island for the first time. 

The Stroke Association will be working with Headway Guernsey, UnLtd at the Ron Short Centre, and local health workers to bring stroke survivors and carers together so they can share experiences and support each other as they rebuild their lives. 

Alysa Rixon has been appointed as its engagement officer for the island, bringing a local focus. 

“I look forward to working with local professionals, charities and above all stroke survivors and carers themselves to shape stroke support that reflects Guernsey’s needs,” she said.  

A long-time resident of Guernsey, Ms Rixon brings experience in health and community support roles. After a successful career in the Guernsey public sector, she began working for charities in 2018, managing the establishment and growth of Carers Guernsey, and volunteering for the Guernsey Counselling Service. She is also a qualified counsellor and therapeutic coach. 

Ms Rixon will be talking to islanders about their experiences and working closely with local health professionals in treatment, rehabilitation, and long-term recovery to identify where gaps in support may exist.  

A key priority for this will be the development of peer support groups, including a group specifically focused on aphasia, a communication disorder which impacts on a person’s ability to speak, understand speech, read or write. An often misunderstood condition, affecting around one-third of stroke survivors.  

The project has been made possible by a grant from the Lloyds Bank Foundation for the Channel Islands, with the Stroke Association matching the grant from its donations. 

Jacqui Cuthbert, the Stroke Association’s associate director for the South West and Channel Islands, said: “We’re very excited to welcome Alysa to the team. Having someone on the ground in Guernsey is a major milestone for the Stroke Association, extending our reach to enable more stroke survivors to find strength through support.  

“Each year, between 90 and a 100 people in Guernsey will have a stroke. Coming home from hospital after a stroke can be a frightening time for survivors and their families. We want to ensure they are not left feeling isolated”.

The Stroke Association has given the following facts and guidance:

  • Brain damage caused by a stroke can leave survivors unable to move, see, speak or even swallow.     
  • Surviving a stroke is just the start of a long and gruelling recovery journey.  
  • Mums, dads, grandparents, young people, even children – anyone can have a stroke, and its impact is traumatic.   
  • The Stroke Association is the only charity providing life-long support for all stroke survivors and their families.

Ms Rixon’s appointment coincides with May being ‘Stroke Awareness Month’, during which the team at Le Marchant Ward at the Princess Elizabeth Hospital will be hosting stroke information sessions for carers.

Cath Dyer, Stroke Care Coordinator at the Princess Elizabeth Hospital, said: “In Guernsey for the last few years, we have been very lucky to have Headway Guernsey supporting our working age strokes and their families. But I am so very happy and excited to have the Stroke Association here on Island to support the many other stroke survivors in Guernsey.”

The project has been made possible by a grant from the Lloyds Bank Foundation for the Channel Islands, with the Stroke Association matching the grant from its donations. 

Jo Le Poidevin, Executive Director of the Lloyds Bank Foundation for the Channel Islands, said: “We’re proud to support the Stroke Association’s work in Guernsey, helping people recover and rebuild after the trauma of stroke. As a Foundation, we are committed to funding charities that make a lasting difference to the lives of people facing complex challenges.” 

The Stroke Association provides a wide range of information and guidance for Guernsey residents via its website, including an online forum, downloadable resources, and the Stroke Support Helpline 0303 3033 100.  

Guernsey residents can follow the new Stroke Association Guernsey Facebook page for updates on peer support groups, events and other local developments.