Reclaim 2026: Celebrating 30 Years of Different Strokes

This year, Different Strokes turns 30. To mark the occasion, we’re bringing our community together for a special event: Reclaim 2026.

Taking place on Saturday 18 July 2026 in Daventry, this day is all about connection, shared experience, and looking ahead.

We’ll be celebrating with a daytime conference and an evening celebration, bringing our community together to connect and reflect. You can choose to attend the daytime event, the evening celebration, or join us for both!

Whether your stroke was recent or many years ago, this is a chance to be in a space where people understand.

A day to connect and reflect

Our daytime event will bring together stroke survivors, families and carers from across the UK.

The day will include breakout sessions, including a vision board workshop, and time to connect with others who understand life after stroke.

We’re pleased to welcome Sheila Chingono as our keynote speaker.

Sheila is a stroke survivor, speaker and passionate advocate for raising awareness of stroke in younger people. At just 32, she experienced a life-changing haemorrhagic stroke in April 2023, only months after getting married and at a time when both she and her husband were thriving in their careers.

Following weeks in hospital and facing paralysis down her left side, Sheila began a challenging recovery journey. With determination, support from her loved ones and a strong sense of purpose, she has regained her independence and continues to adapt to life with some ongoing physical effects.

Now, Sheila uses her experience to challenge misconceptions about stroke, particularly the belief that it only affects older people or that recovery is limited.

She is passionate about helping others feel hopeful, informed and empowered in their own recovery. Sheila brings a powerful and honest perspective on life after stroke, and the importance of believing in what is possible.

Alongside this, there will be a range of smaller breakout sessions covering the following topics:

Living with Aphasia, facilitated by Say Aphasia
Exercise session, facilitated by Anthony Bryan
Post-stroke fatigue
Post stroke identity
Vision board workshops
Caring for a stroke survivor
Legal advice, facilitated by Irwin Mitchell and Slater and Gordon

Attendees will have the option to chose two sessions.

There will also be space to talk, share and simply spend time with others who understand.

An evening to celebrate

In the evening, we’ll come together to celebrate 30 years of Different Strokes.

The celebration will include a three-course meal, music, and a relaxed chance to enjoy time with the community.

We’ll also hear from Ranj Parmar, our Chair of Trustees, who will reflect on his own experience and what Different Strokes means to him.

Ranj had a stroke at 39, when a sudden subarachnoid haemorrhage changed his life without warning. At the time, he was working in a demanding global role and balancing a busy family life. Although his recovery was good, he was left with ongoing fatigue and thunderclap headaches and a very different perspective on life.

After leaving hospital, Ranj became aware of how isolating a stroke can feel, especially as a younger person. Wanting to connect with others who understood and provide a safe space for others to share their experiences without judgement, he co-created a local peer support group in Southampton. What started as a daunting step grew into a strong community, supporting many other survivors.

He is passionate about the power of peer support and the difference it can make. Ranj believes no one should have to face life after stroke alone.