LeeAnn Taggart, chair of Epilepsy Action Northern Ireland Omagh Branch, has received the Branch Member of the Year Northern Ireland award in recognition of her work. Additionally, Epilepsy Action Northern Ireland Omagh Branch has received the Branch of the Year Award for the work it does as part of the UK’s largest member-led epilepsy charity.
The awards will be presented on 30 April at the Silver Birch Hotel, Omagh at 7.30pm. The presentation will be made by June Massey, chair of Epilepsy Action’s council of management.
Since the formation of this branch in 2009, LeeAnn and other volunteers have been providing support to people with epilepsy and their families. Membership of Omagh branch ranges from people with poorly controlled epilepsy to those who enjoy seizure freedom and want to help others overcome many of the difficulties they have experienced.
Branch members work as a team to provide understanding of epilepsy for everyone attending their monthly meetings. Officers and committee members develop a programme of activities that include promotion of epilepsy in their community. This is through organising awareness days, taking part in local healthy alliance events, fundraising, and organising social events for members.
Branch members work in partnership with Epilepsy Action’s Northern Ireland manager, Morina Clarke. They can always be relied upon to participate in the many events that are organised here, such as lobbying for better services or attending the various workshops and seminars that are organised throughout the year.
Morina Clarke said: “Omagh was the first Epilepsy Action branch to receive an award in the first round of funding from Epilepsy Action’s Diamond Project Awards. This money has been used to provide IT training for people with epilepsy in Omagh, as well as a personal development course. They are a very proactive group and are committed to making life better for all people with epilepsy.
“LeeAnn Taggart has demonstrated strong, yet sensitive, leadership. She has gained the respect of the members, and as the event’s organiser, she has kept herself up-to-date with grants and courses. She is a forward planner and always puts the needs of the people in the group first.
In 2011, she was instrumental in securing the Diamond Project Award for the group. This is a huge accolade that enabled local people with epilepsy attend a 10-week course in IT and personal development. LeeAnn is currently sharing the role of treasurer of the branch with Morina and has developed links with different statutory and community groups in Omagh. At all times LeeAnn respects individuals and she supports them equally, with confidentiality.
The Omagh Branch meetings are open to anyone with an interest in epilepsy. There are opportunities to access detailed information about living with the condition and to learn how to get involved in raising epilepsy awareness in the area.
The Omagh Branch meets on the first Monday of the month from 7.30pm in the Silver Birch Hotel, Omagh. If you are interested in joining the branch, or would like more information, please contact Morina on 02890 634 942 (mobile: 07885 778585), or at mclarke@epilepsy.org.uk
Epilepsy Action is a registered charity which has a network of branches throughout the UK. Last year the organisation directly helped 1,076,874 people through its wide range of services, including its Epilepsy Helpline and advice and information centre.
For more information about the work of Epilepsy Action, please visit www.epilepsy.org.uk or call the Epilepsy Helpline freephone on 0808 80 5050.