National Epilepsy Week 2008 (18-25 May 2008)

For National Epilepsy Week 2008, Epilepsy Action will be highlighting the lack of awareness about epilepsy that exists in our society.

Aims of the week

During National Epilepsy Week we will be encouraging all our supporters to help us educate more people, from MPs and other key decision makers to the general public, about epilepsy.

• Epilepsy facts and stats

Meet your MP

We are calling on all of our supporters to write to their local Member of Parliament (MP) to request a meeting at their local constituency office during the Friday or Saturday of National Epilepsy Week or as soon as possible afterwards. The purpose of the meeting will be to:

• raise the MPs awareness about epilepsy.
• inform the MP about any problems you have had accessing epilepsy services.
• ask the MP to take action to improve their personal knowledge about epilepsy and to improve epilepsy services.

We have drafted template letters that you can send to your local MP to request a meeting with them. You may wish to put the letter into your own words. You will need to add your own information to the sections of the letter highlighted in bold.

• Suggested template letter for people living in England
• Suggested template letter for people living in Scotland
• Suggested template letter for people living in Wales
• Suggested template letter for people living in Northern Ireland

We would be grateful if you could send to us a copy of any letters you receive from your local MP in response to this letter and if you could let us know the outcome of any meetings you may have with your local MP. Please send any letters to:

Michaela Miller
Epilepsy Action
New Anstey House
Gate Way Drive
Yeadon
LEEDS
LS19 7XY

Or you can telephone: 0113 210 8800 or send an email to mmiller@epilepsy.org.uk.

On Monday 19 May we will be releasing the results of a survey sent to a cross section of MPs about epilepsy. The findings may surprise you. Please revisit this page on Monday 19 May to see the results.

Nominate your MP

You will also be able to nominate any MPs that you feel have gone the extra mile in helping you access better epilepsy services for an Epilepsy Action Award for Excellence.

If you would like to nominate an MP for this award please send details to Michaela Miller, Epilepsy Action’s campaigns and policy officer, by email to mmiller@epilepsy.org.uk or in writing to:

Michaela Miller
Epilepsy Action
New Anstey House
Gate Way Drive
Yeadon
LEEDS
LS19 7XY

Please include the following information:

• your name;
• address;
• a contact telephone number;
• your email address (if you have one);
• the name of the MP you wish to nominate;
• details of how the MP has helped you to access better epilepsy services.

Your experiences of living with epilepsy

We will be asking for your views about your experiences of living with epilepsy in the UK and how the lack of awareness that exists affects you. For example, this could include the impact of epilepsy on you socially, in employment and educationally.

A selection of views will be displayed on our website to help raise the awareness of people about epilepsy and how it impacts on those with the condition.

Please send your comments to Lucy Rollinson, Epilepsy Action’s communications officer, through our online form or in writing to

Lucy Rollinson
Epilepsy Action
New Anstey House
Gate Way Drive
Yeadon
LEEDS
LS19 7XY

Tell your story

We are also looking for people who would be willing to tell their story to journalists. If you are interested in taking part in media interviews for National Epilepsy Week please complete our form with as much information as possible.

More information?

If you would like any further information about National Epilepsy Week please contact Michaela Miller, by email to mmiller@epilepsy.org.uk or by phone on 0113 210 8877.