Lanarkshire Epilepsy

Aim

We're the only charity supporting those with epilepsy in North and South Lanarkshire. We want to keep doing so!

We have 4 weeks to raise the funds to keep operating and continue supporting 500 people every year across North and South Lanarkshire!

Please consider donating whatever you are able. Every penny really does count and with your help we can secure the future of Lanarkshire Epilepsy for the benefit of adults, children, and families who are affected by epilepsy.

Summary

For the past 10 year, have been and still are the only charity across North and South Lanarkshire providing frontline support to those with Epilepsy and their families. This support is totally free. Over the past 18 months, we've still continued to try and provide support to those with epilepsy and their families as best we can, but we haven't been able to fundraise in the same way. As a result, we are at risk of no longer being able to afford to operate. We want to raise the money necessary to keep supporting those in need! 

What We Do

Despite those with epilepsy often being marginalised due to ignorance and fear surrounding the condition, we know that those with epilepsy can live full and active lives! We provide specialist support such as counselling, befriending, and opportunities for socialisation through family fun days, outdoor activities, support groups, and other evening events! These services are independently proven to best options in addressing the risks of depression, anxiety, and social isolation that those with epilepsy can experience. 

Every year we support approximately 500 people with our proven services and we want to make sure we can continue to support both these and all of those in need who live with this condition. Our work is supported by dedicated volunteers who are the backbone of Lanarkshire Epilepsy.

Our Story - Supporting those with Epilepsy for 10 Years

We were formed as a charity in 2011, by Helen MacDonald. After being made redundant from her job with a leading epilepsy charity, she has made it her mission to meet the unmet need of those with epilepsy across North and South Lanarkshire, a blackspot with no other epilepsy charities operating.

In those ten years, we've been making sure that those with epilepsy stay connected, get out and about, and  get specialist advice and support, including counselling. We've continued to support our clients during the pandemic in every way possible, despite not being able to fundraise in the same way. 

Our Plans

We have exciting plans for the future! In particular, we want to provide more counselling sessions to our clients who need it and address the benefits system which often fails to understand epilepsy. We want to employ a specialist welfare and benefits advisor to help our clients navigate the confusing welfare system. Those with epilepsy have one of the lowest employment rates, and many are not getting the benefits to which they are entitled. We can help fix that!

Despite these plans, the most important thing is keeping the charity operating! Please help us to keep supporting the roughly 5,000 people across North and South Lanarkshire who live with epilepsy every day. Your help can make a real difference! 

This project successfully funded on 8th March 2022