Brain injury survivor campaigns for more targeted support for young people

A young man left fighting for his life when he was knocked off his bike is campaigning for improved support for young people recovering from brain injury.

Billy Draper-Barr, 26, was cycling in Hammersmith when a car pulled out from a side road and into his path. The impact threw Billy onto the windscreen before he collapsed at the roadside.

The then 20 year old Imperial College London mechanical engineering student was rushed to hospital, where he underwent an emergency craniotomy – the removal of part of the skull – to relieve a bleed on the brain.

Billy, who was living in a student house in Hammersmith at the time of the collision in 2020, and his family instructed expert serious injury lawyers at Irwin Mitchell to help him access the specialist rehabilitation he required to rebuild his life.

His legal team secured him a settlement in 2024, providing long term financial security to support his ongoing recovery and access to specialist rehabilitation and therapies.

He is now using his experience to raise awareness of the challenges facing young survivors of traumatic brain injury during Action for Brain Injury Week.

Billy, who is originally from Redditch, Worcestershire, says that while the medical care he received was “exceptional”, he often felt the information available did not fully reflect the experiences or concerns of young people.

Sarah Griggs, the expert serious injury lawyer that supported Billy and his family, said: 

“Billy suffered devastating injuries in the collision at a crucial time for him during his life. He lost his independence was facing a very uncertain time with his studies and career chances at risk.

 

“Billy’s experience reflects a wider challenge facing young brain injury survivors, that is the information available doesn’t always account for young people’s goals, such as returning to education, entering the workplace or planning for independent living.

 

“With the right, tailored, support in place, Billy was not only able to return to his studies but to excel in them and forge out a successful career. He has also learned how to manage his symptoms and balance the demands of work with time for his health, friends and family.

 

“It’s been incredible to see how far Billy has come, but there remains a real need for better, age appropriate information and support for young people recovering from brain injury.”

At the time of the collision in August 2020, Billy was preparing to begin his third year studying mechanical engineering at Imperial College London.

He spent several weeks in hospital, including time on a neuro rehabilitation ward, before being discharged to recover at his parents’ home in Redditch, Worcestershire.

While in hospital, Billy was given information about brain injury, but it was largely focused on basic functional milestones such as standing or balancing. As a young person, he said he struggled to relate to the material and felt that the information, often delivered through leaflets or aimed at much older patients, did not reflect the realities of recovering from a brain injury at his stage of life.

Initially, Billy believed he could recover through determination alone and admits he struggled to accept support, assuming the effects of his brain injury would improve with time.

It was not until experiencing a setback during his exams in 2021 that he began to fully engage with rehabilitation, a turning point he now describes as “crucial”.

Billy says he needed support that focused on understanding the long term cognitive and physical impacts of his injury.

His legal team helped him secure early access to a coordinated needs assessment, enabling him to access a personalised rehabilitation programme. He had access to physiotherapy, neuropsychology, occupational therapy, and speech and language therapy, all of which supported him through his final year at university.

Billy went on to complete his degree, graduating with a first class honours, and has since settled into a career in the energy sector in Chicago, USA.

He is currently training for the Chicago Marathon and raising funds for a US based brain injury recovery charity. Billy says campaigning for better information and peer support for young survivors remains a key motivation.

Billy, said: 

“I am incredibly grateful for the medical care I received, but as a young person it was hard to see myself in the information I was given about my longer-term recovery. My focus was on getting back to university and building a future, yet the support available didn’t always reflect those priorities. I was fortunate to have access to tailored support that helped me understand what was possible after my injury.

 

“Years later, I still experience ongoing symptoms, including fatigue and speech difficulties, but support from my rehabilitation team and family has enabled me to push myself and make the most of every opportunity. I know that with the right support, other young people can achieve their goals and build meaningful futures after a brain injury.”

Action for Brain Injury Week, organised by Headway, takes place from 18–24 May. The annual campaign raises awareness of the challenges faced by individuals and families living with acquired brain injury.

For more information visit Action for Brain Injury (ABI) Week | Headway