SHIMS is a self-help music group formed by musicians who have for whatever reason sustained a head/brain injury. Initially set up as a weekly music session where members could meet and play music together. The organisation is volunteer run and there is no cost to join. The group now meet twice a week in North Ayrshire and to find out details of where and when the sessions are. Contact SHIMS by email at shimsgroup@yahoo.co.uk.

We would welcome any new members irrespective of their musical abilities.

SHIMS also go out into the community where they perform telling their stories through music and hope that it will give an insight to all the challenges one can face in dealing with a head injury and how invisible it can be to others.

SHIMS with the help of Awards For All Lottery funding and other supporters Glaxosmithkline (GSK) in particular, are about to embark on recording a CD of their original music and have just completed a project with the Brain Injury Experience Network (BIEN) group from West Dumbarton in which they recorded a song for a film that the BIEN are currently producing to raise awareness about the effects of brain injuries.

SHIMS would be willing to give assistance to other areas in setting up a similar music group.