Chest Heart & Stroke Scotland Partners with Different Strokes to Support Young Stroke Survivors 01 July 2025 A special in-person community event for young stroke survivors will be brought to Scotland later this year. Events such as Life After Stroke are so important, especially for young people, because they offer a unique chance to come together and share experiences Scotland’s largest health charity, Chest Heart & Stroke Scotland and Different Strokes, a charity that supports younger stroke survivors, will jointly host Life After Stroke: Identity, Experience and Insight on Saturday September 20th. Taking place at the Studio Conference Centre on Hope Street in Glasgow, this in-person event offers a unique opportunity for stroke survivors to connect, share their experiences, and engage in open, honest conversations about life after stroke. Adjusting to life after stroke is different for everyone and it can be easy to be overwhelmed, anxious, unsure where to go next or to feel upset and isolated. Those challenges can be exacerbated for younger people. This event will bring young stroke survivors from across Scotland to share their stories. The session in September will focus on identity, experience and insight. CHSS is delighted to be working with Different Strokes to bring this session north of the border and the charity’s own Strategic Political Advisor, Amy Callaghan, will be the keynote speaker on the day. Amy, a former Member of Parliament, is a young brain haemorrhage survivor and will share her journey of recovery through rehabilitation, getting back to work, campaigning for accessibility in politics and her continued work with CHSS. Amy said: “Events such as Life After Stroke are so important, especially for young people, because they offer a unique chance to come together and share experiences, advice and feel understood on your recovery journey no matter what stage of that journey you’re on. “Every stroke is different, and every stroke journey is different. For younger people there can be so many daunting challenges ahead which is why it’s important to speak to other people who are going through a similar experience to you to realise you are not alone. “September’s event is an ideal opportunity in a friendly and welcoming atmosphere for young stroke survivors and their families and carers to attend.” Sharing young stroke survivors stories The day is important for young stroke survivors, like Kirsty MacLean, to share their stories. Kirsty, who is now the assistant manager of the CHSS shop in Prestwick, had a cerebral venous sinus thrombosis (CVST) stroke after a series of painful headaches. She was treated at University Hospital Crosshouse and the neuro ward at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Glasgow but has been left with no lower or peripheral vision. She said: “After the operation I was so depressed. After four weeks in hospital I got a letter about support after stroke. “I was really struggling when I got home and I was really scared and didn’t know how to live my new life. My mum called my stroke nurse and she referred me to Joanne from Chest Heart & Stroke Scotland and I met with her once a week. “Joanne wanted to set goals with me. She would meet me at the train station every week and get the train to Saltcoats and we’d walk back and that made so much of a difference because it gave me confidence. “Some weeks she would just call and it would make such a difference because she got it. That’s the power that these conversations can have.” The event will run from approximately 10AM until 3:30PM and tickets can be purchased by going to Glasgow | Life After Stroke: Identity, Experience and Insight – with CHSS Tickets, Sat, Sep 20, 2025 at 10:00 AM | Eventbrite.